Supports countries in producing reliable forest information for climate change mitigation.
GEO Work Programme
About
The GEO Work Programme is the primary instrument used by GEO to facilitate collaboration among its Members, Participating Organisations, Associates, and other partners through a series of joint activities aimed at realising GEO’s Mission and Vision.
In response to the call by the GEO Post-2025 Strategy for transformative programmes that focus on co-producing Earth Intelligence solutions to address complex global challenges, the Post-2025 Global Work Programme aims to evolve GEO from primarily facilitating Earth observation data access to actively developing user-driven, integrated products and services that inform decisions and empower society.
The strategy emphasises the need for efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and additionality in GEO’s programmes, requiring a growth-oriented mindset from the community to integrate new technologies, increase global access to Earth intelligence, and enhance youth participation.
The Post-2025 GEO Work Programme was approved by the GEO-20 Plenary in Rome on 7 May 2025.
Structure
The Post-2025 GEO Work Programme comprises three main categories: Conveners, Research to Operations Pipeline Activities (Mature Flagship, Flagship, Initiative and Pilot) and Enabling Mechanisms.
Mature Flagships
When a Flagship achieves full operational capacity and sustained services, demonstrating high maturity and independence, and is ready to advance beyond the R2O process, it remains part of the GWP as a Mature Flagship. It retains the GEO brand, leverages further opportunities for advancement and synergy, and serves as a model of best practices to follow.
Flagships
Flagships represent the final stage of the R2O pipeline, encompassing activities with fully developed, qualified systems that have been tested and operated under real-world conditions with users, and “flight proven.” They continue to progress toward long-term sustainability and full establishment, working closely with users and stakeholders.
Coordinates global biodiversity monitoring to inform conservation and sustainable use policies.
Enhances monitoring of agricultural production to ensure food security using Earth observation data.
GEO Global Water Sustainability
GEOGLOWSAddresses global water sustainability through Earth observation-based solutions.
Provides tools and data to support global efforts in achieving land degradation neutrality.
Monitors geohazards to reduce risks and enhance preparedness.
Develops global systems for monitoring mercury pollution and supporting policy frameworks.
Enhances wildfire monitoring and risk assessment using Earth observations.
Initiatives
Initiatives are activities , which advance from the Pilot stage, focusing on developing products, tools, or services based on Earth observation data and relevant technologies. These activities have been validated in relevant environments and are creating system prototypes in a near-operational mode. Within their specific domains, Initiatives facilitate the transition of innovative results and prototypes from the research community into Earth observation-based products and services, catering to a diverse range of users. They also foster stakeholder communities that collaborate to build capacity and maximize the value of these products and services.
Enhances disaster resilience through Earth observations.
Enhances forest biomass monitoring with tree-level data.
Focuses on Earth observations for cryosphere monitoring and research.
GEO Human Planet
HUMAN-PLANETMaps human presence to inform sustainable development strategies.
Global Ecosystems Atlas
THE ATLASComprehensive tool for ecosystem insights, aiding restoration, biodiversity assessment and carbon storage analysis for sustainable solutions.
Advances Earth observations for monitoring mountain ecosystems.
Monitors vegetation health for early pest and disease detection.
Monitors night-time light to assess socio-economic activities.
Pilots
Formerly known as Pilot Initiatives, Pilots are activities within the Post-2025 GWP at the initial or early stages of concept development, serving as proofs of concept for proposed products, tools, or services utilizing Earth observation data. These activities are designed to address identified needs of a defined user base and stakeholders, laying the groundwork for further development.
A Decision-Making System for Slope Risk Deduction
SLOPE-RISK-GPTAn autonomous decision-making system for slope risk assessment and landslide mitigation based on multimodal large models.
The project has established a research framework of “observation-simulation-prediction-decision” for fire risk identification, evolution analysis, and emergency decision-making methods.
Advances Earth observations for monitoring and managing karst ecosystems.
Integrates Earth observations for sustainable resource management.
GEO Wetlands
GEO-WETLANDSImproves monitoring and management of global wetlands.
Promotes Earth observation collaboration for environmental monitoring.
Innovative 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
TEMBOHydrometeorological data in Africa should be publicly available, open, and free, but there is a lack of resources to realize this.
Conveners
Conveners serve as communities of practice or communities of interest, bringing together partners and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and foster connections and collaborations within and across Focus Areas. They typically don’t aim at developing or transitioning specific tools and applications into operational products and services but may well curate concepts for new R2O activities.
AquaWatch
AQUAWATCHFocuses on global water quality monitoring and management.
Arctic GEOSS
ARCTIC-GEOSSAddresses environmental challenges unique to the Arctic.
Earth Observations for Health
HEALTH-CoPApplies Earth observations to improve global health outcomes.
Tracks environmental impacts of mining operations.
GEO Blue Planet
GEO-BLUE-PLANETFocuses on ocean and coastal observations to support sustainable use.
In the context of GEONICE, “nexus” refers to the common space where the three areas—climate, energy, and urbanization—intersect
Space and Security
SPACE-SECURITYUses Earth observations for enhancing security applications.
Monitors impacts of climate on urban heritage sites.
Enabling Mechanisms
Enabling Mechanisms are activities that either provide foundational support across all R2O Pipeline activities, enhancing their growth along the pipeline and capacity to deliver operational products and services, or serve the entire GEO community or regional aspects of it. These mechanisms encompass essential resources, infrastructure, and coordination efforts, including access to open data and knowledge, integration of advanced technologies, alignment with global policy frameworks, and increased impact through collaboration with underrepresented communities.
The proposed Artificial Intelligence for Earth Observations Convener (AI4EO) within GEO aims to integrate AI into Earth Intelligence by establishing a network of AI experts across the GEO community.
Offers integrated data services to enable Earth observation applications.
The Data and Knowledge Working Group (DK-WG) focuses on enhancing the use of Earth observation (EO) data by addressing and sharing data management principles, data policy, and governance issues within the GEO community.
Digital Earth Africa
DE AFRICAProvides accessible Earth observation data to support sustainable development in Africa.
Digital Earth Approaches for GEO
GEO-DECOPAdvancing 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 PACIFICProvides tailored Earth observation solutions for Pacific Island nations.
Brings together the GEO Work Proragmme, DRR and climate change experts to promote the integration of Earth Intelligence into disaster management and climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Leverages Earth observations to support achievement of the SDGs.
This proposed GEO activity aims to integrate ongoing initiatives between Africa and Europe to facilitate seamless access, sharing, and use of EO data, in alignment with the “EO Intelligence for All” strategy.
GEO Capacity Building in the Balkans, Black Sea, Middle East, Africa, and Pacific Asia Regions
GEO-CRADLEStrengthens Earth observation capacities across the region.
Support the GEO infrastructure’s goal of making Earth observation data more accessible, secure, and integrated across diverse user groups.
GEO Indigenous Alliance
GEO-IAGEO-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-YOUTHAn step toward realizing the massive untapped potential for GEO and GEO Youth to mutually benefit from critical, deliberate engagement with one another.
This activity aims to establish the GEO UAV Observation Network, integrate it into the GEO infrastructure, collaborate with various GWP working groups, and apply it across multiple fields and countries worldwide.
Fostering 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
The Resilient Cities and Human Settlements Working Group (RCHS-WG) focuses on integrating Earth observations into urban resilience and sustainable urbanization efforts across cities and human settlements worldwide.
An international community focused on the value and socioeconomic impacts of geospatial information for decision-making