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Research and innovation

Environmental observation

Environmental observation research, funding, collaboration and jobs, projects, results and documents

Why the EU supports research and innovation in environmental observation

The Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and landscapes are changing rapidly. Human activities are a major driver of these changes.

Monitoring and modelling these changes is critical to make informed decisions on the global challenges our society is facing. Vital information is gathered by land, sea, air and space-based environmental observation systems.

This data can be used to inform and improve decision-making in EU policies on environment, research, climate, energy and sustainable development. This knowledge helps protect people against natural disasters, respond to climate change, manage energy resources or promote sustainable agriculture. The data also provides opportunities to European businesses to develop value-added services. 

Governments and international organisations coordinate their environmental observation strategies and investment through the worldwide Group on Earth Observations (GEO). GEO is working to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

EuroGEO is Europe’s part of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). It brings together all of the environmental observation resources available in Europe so that they can be used more effectively.

The EU's research and innovation programmes have been pivotal in building the GEOSS. More than €200 million was invested during 2007-2013 and support continues through current Horizon 2020 and future Horizon Europe activities.

Funding opportunities

Horizon Europe

On this page you can find more information, the work programme and a link to calls related to environmental observation

Projects and results

Horizon Magazine

Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking environmental observation research projects funded by the EU

Horizon dashboard

Access to real-time programme data with the ability to filter by country, region, theme and more

Horizon Results Platform

Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships

Collaboration and jobs

Copernicus

The EU's Earth observation programme, managed by the Commission. It provides free and openly accessible data

Scientific publications, tools and databases

Scientific publications

Scientific research publications on environmental observation published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Copernicus

The EU's environmental observation programme, managed by the Commission. It provides free and openly accessible data

EU Open Data Portal

Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes

OpenAIRE

You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE