Celebrating 20 years of Earth Intelligence: A milestone for the Group on Earth Observations

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). Since its inception in 2005, GEO has been at the forefront of harnessing Earth observation data to tackle some of the most pressing challenges the planet faces.

As we commemorate this incredible journey, throughout 2025 we will reflect on the achievements, collaborations and innovations that have defined GEO over the past two decades.

Emerging from the Third Earth Observation Summit, GEO champions open data sharing, global collaboration and the transformative power of Earth Intelligence.

This year promises to be an exciting one for GEO. The GEO Global Forum, held in Rome in May, will unite experts, policymakers and stakeholders from around the globe to explore how Earth intelligence can address today’s critical issues.

At the heart of the week will be the GEO-20 Plenary, which will include a Ministerial Segment where the GEO community will mark three key milestones in our journey:

• The Launch of the First GEO Global Forum: This dynamic platform will pave the way for advancing Earth Intelligence for everyone, fostering dialogue and collaboration across borders.
• Celebrating Two Decades of GEO: We will honour 20 years of multilateral cooperation, innovation and impactful initiatives that have shaped our understanding of the Earth and its systems.
• Adopting the Post-2025 Strategy Implementation Plan: This crucial step is aimed at achieving the ambitious goals outlined in GEO’s Post-2025 Strategy, ensuring that our efforts continue to evolve and adapt to the needs of our planet.

Regional GEO events this year in Asia-Oceania, Africa, the Americas and Europe will also serve as platforms for sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and furthering our mission to leverage Earth observation data for the common good.

One of GEO’s enduring legacies is its commitment to open knowledge. Initiatives like the GEO Knowledge Hub are turning data into actionable insights, integrating citizen science, indigenous knowledge and cutting-edge technology to ensure equitable access to Earth intelligence.

GEO operates on a foundation of open data principles, equity and innovation. GEO Accelerators, such as the Global Ecosystems Atlas and the Global Heat Resilience Service, show the transformative potential of Earth observation data. These solutions, alongside many others, demonstrate GEO’s commitment to provide actionable insights that inform climate action, biodiversity protection and disaster resilience.

Celebrate GEO's 20th anniversary in style: Members of the GEO community are encouraged to showcase their pride and mark this milestone by using our specially designed email signature to highlight two decades of advancing Earth intelligence together (feel free to link it to this page).

Be sure to also follow GEO on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest developments and events in this momentous year.