GEO Cold Regions Initiative
GEOCRIInitiativeFocuses on Earth observations for cryosphere monitoring and research.
Climate, Energy and Urbanisation
Climate, Energy and Urbanisation addresses the interconnected challenges of climate change, energy use and urbanisation through Earth observations, focusing on localised adaptation, mitigation and resilience strategies.
GEO provides critical insights by tracking climate trends, assessing renewable energy potential, and monitoring urban expansion and land use, supporting integrated planning and decision-making to enhance sustainability in human settlements.
Harnessing Earth Intelligence for Urban Sustainability
Through activities such as GEO Cold Regions Initiative, GEO Human Planet and the Global Heat Resilience Service, GEO harnesses Earth Intelligence to empower:
- Climate-smart urban planning and cooling strategies for heat mitigation.
- Data-driven design of green infrastructure, such as urban forests and sustainable drainage.
- Optimisation of renewable energy deployment and grid management.
Key GEO Activities
GEO Human Planet
HUMAN-PLANETInitiativeMaps human presence to inform sustainable development strategies.
Global Heat Resilience Service
GHRSPilotInnovative service using Earth Intelligence to identify heat risks, support cooling strategies and enhance resilience in urban areas.
In Situ Observations and Modeling for Weather, Water, Environment, and Climate Services in Africa
TEMBOPilotHydrometeorological data in Africa should be publicly available, open, and free, but there is a lack of resources to realize this.
Arctic GEOSS
ARCTIC-GEOSSConvenerAddresses environmental challenges unique to the Arctic.
Nexus on Climate, Energy, and Urbanization
GEONICEConvenerIn the context of GEONICE, “nexus” refers to the common space where the three areas—climate, energy, and urbanization—intersect
Urban Heritage Climate Observatory
UHCOConvenerMonitors impacts of climate on urban heritage sites.
The Global Heat Resilience Service
Central to GEO’s work on climate and urban resilience is the Global Heat Resilience Service, an innovative tool designed to address the growing challenges of extreme heat in urban areas. By leveraging advanced Earth observation data, the service enables stakeholders to:
- Identify urban heat islands and vulnerable populations to prioritise interventions.
- Support the development of cooling infrastructure and nature-based solutions.
- Monitor the impacts of extreme heat on public health, infrastructure, and energy systems.
The Global Heat Resilience Service equips decision-makers with actionable intelligence to mitigate heat risks, enhance urban resilience, and protect vulnerable communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.
Supporting Global Priorities
This work advances:
SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
Enhancing urban resilience and sustainability.
Paris Agreement:
Promoting energy transitions and climate adaptation in urban settings.
Sendai Framework:
Reducing disaster risks in cities through early warning systems and informed planning.
Looking Ahead
GEO’s Post-2025 vision focuses on bridging knowledge gaps, fostering innovation in urban resilience strategies and integrating Earth Intelligence data with socio-economic metrics. Initiatives will emphasise equity, youth engagement and actionable intelligence for sustainable urban development.
Related GEO Activities
Global Forest Observations Initiative
GFOIMature FlagshipSupports countries in producing reliable forest information for climate change mitigation.
Earth Observations for Disaster Risk Management
EO4DRMInitiativeEnhances disaster resilience through Earth observations.
Global Network for Observations and Information in Mountain Environments
GEO-MOUNTAINSInitiativeAdvances Earth observations for monitoring mountain ecosystems.
Night-Time Light Remote Sensing for Sustainable Development Goals
NIGHT-LIGHTInitiativeMonitors night-time light to assess socio-economic activities.
Integrates Earth observations for sustainable resource management.
Promotes Earth observation collaboration for environmental monitoring.
AquaWatch
AQUAWATCHConvenerFocuses on global water quality monitoring and management.
GEO Blue Planet
GEO-BLUE-PLANETConvenerFocuses on ocean and coastal observations to support sustainable use.
Space and Security
SPACE-SECURITYConvenerUses Earth observations for enhancing security applications.
Digital Earth Africa
DE AFRICAEnabling MechanismProvides accessible Earth observation data to support sustainable development in Africa.
Digital Earth Approaches for GEO
GEO-DECOPEnabling MechanismAdvancing and operationalizing Digital Earth, at an initial stage, through the Earth Observation (EO) Data Cubes efforts, with a focus on implementing global principles in local contexts
Digital Earth Pacific
DE PACIFICEnabling MechanismProvides tailored Earth observation solutions for Pacific Island nations.
GEO Indigenous Alliance
GEO-IAEnabling MechanismGEO-IA contributes to a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable approach to Earth observation initiatives that benefit Indigenous communities, the scientific community, and global efforts to harmoniously coexist with our planet.
GEO Youth Community of Practice
GEO-YOUTHEnabling MechanismA step toward realizing the massive untapped potential for GEO and GEO Youth to mutually benefit from critical, deliberate engagement with one another.
Linking and Connecting Women in Earth Observation and Earth Intelligence
GEO-WOMENEnabling MechanismFostering collaboration and strengthening the networks of women’s participation in marginalized communities within these fields is essential for building a collaborative, accessible Earth data ecosystem
Understanding the Impacts and Value of Earth Observations
GEOVALUEEnabling MechanismAn international community focused on the value and socioeconomic impacts of geospatial information for decision-making