Member since February 2005

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Engagement in GEO

The United States has been an active member of GEO since its inception. As a founding member, the United States has played a pivotal role in GEO's governance processes, actively participating in the Executive Committee, Programme Board, Plenary and Ministerial meetings.

Priority Areas

Complementing the key priority areas of GEO, the United States' aligns its engagement in GEO with its commitment to fostering global collaboration on climate, environmental sustainability, and resilience through the following focus areas:

• Supporting Small Island Developing States
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Implementing Early Warnings for All Initiative
• Reduce emissions, enhance resilience and mobilize climate finance
• Target GHGs, improving energy efficiency, promoting climate adaptation, advancing equitable climate governance.
• Energy security, wildlife conservation, water sustainability, zero-carbon transitions, and global health resilience.

These priorities are supported by USAID’s Climate and BiodiversityStrategies, which aim to catalyze emissions reductions, enhance resilience, and support transitions to climate-resilient and net-zero economies. They align with the U.S. National Security Strategy and the Department of State-USAID Joint Strategic Plan, emphasizing the intersection of environmental goals with foreign policy objectives.

Key Contributions and Leadership

The primary agencies leading the United States' engagement with GEO are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), with additional support from NASA and the Department of State.

As one of GEO’s top donor, the United States contributes funding from three different sources annually, underscoring its commitment to advancing GEO's mission.

Other engaged ministries, agencies, and intergovernmental organizations include:

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• United States Forest Service
• International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

The United States has also hosted two GEO Plenary sessions—in 2009 and 2017—both held in Washington, D.C., further showcasing its leadership and dedication to global collaboration in Earth observation and Earth Intelligence solutions.

GEO Work Programme and Working Groups

Involvement in Regional GEOs

The United States serves a Regional Co-Chair for AmeriGEO and also the Americas Caucus.

Involvement in GEO Work Programme Activities

Various agencies, universities, and organizations across the United States are actively involved in the following GEO Work Programme Activities:

• AIS MONITORING
• AQUAWATCH
• ARCTIC GEOSS
• DE AFRICA
• DE PACIFIC
• EO4EA
• EO4HEALTH
• EO4SDG
• GDIS
• GEO BON
• GEOARC
• GEO BLUE PLANET
• GEOCRI
• GEO-CITSCI
• GEO-EV
• GEOGLAM
• GEOGLOWS
• GEO-LDN
• GEO-MOUNTAINS
• HUMAN-PLANET
• UHCO
• GWIS
• GEO-VENER

Involvement in GEO Working Groups

Various agencies, universities, and organizations across the United States are actively involved in the following Working Groups:

• Climate Change Working Group
• Capacity Development Working Group
• Resilient Cities and Human Settlements Working Group
• Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group
• Data and Knowledge Working Group

Role of Private Sector in GEO

The United States’ public-private partnerships play a pivotal role in advancing GEO’s mission by providing innovative technologies and solutions that enhance Earth observation and environmental governance.

Since 2022, NOAA has partnered with Planet (GEO Associate), leveraging its PlanetScope and SkySat products to gain critical oceanic insights. This includes evaluating oil spills, tracking marine debris, detecting vessels, and identifying large marine mammals. Additionally, NOAA utilizes Esri's (GEO Associate) ArcGIS tools through the NOAAGeo Platform to support geospatial analysis and decision-making.

Planet and Esri have also collaborated to integrate Esri’s GIS databases with Planet’s imagery, enabling comprehensive remote sensing solutions. This partnership has been particularly impactful in areas such as forest inventory management and supporting effective policymaking through improved monitoring capabilities.

In 2021, UNEP (GEO Participating Organization) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewed their partnership to address key environmental challenges. This collaboration focuses on strengthening environmental governance, fostering healthy communities, and transitioning toward green economies, all aimed at conserving and protecting the environment.

With a legacy of leadership and innovation, the United States remains committed to advancing GEO’s mission of promoting global collaboration in Earth Intelligence for the benefit of society, science and sustainable development worldwide.