Earth Action

The world is facing an urgent ‘triple crisis’ of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. With impacts already being felt across every region, and the risks accelerating, decision‑makers need reliable evidence for effective action. 

Earth Action – a core pillar of the FutureEO programme – is ESA’s response. It provides a coordinated framework, that translates ESA’s world-leading Earth observation science, data and applications into trusted, decision‑ready information and solutions. Grounded in science, these activities strengthen understanding of the Earth system and help users anticipate change and act to reduce risk and build resilience. 

Crucially, Earth Action also aims to bridge the ‘last mile’, placing ESA’s world‑class, decision‑ready, satellite information and solutions into the hands of the right users, at the right time and in the right format – moving Earth observation from a data product to a decision-making asset. 

Earth Action combines and expands activities that stem from multiple initiatives to deliver a single focus of support to government, international organisations, research and industry. These include activities from the Climate Change Initiative, the Global Development Assistance and Science for Society initiatives, and Φ-lab Explore. 

Supporting policy and action

Supporting climate and environmental policy sits at the core of Earth Action. ESA’s data and scientific activities provide robust, independent and traceable evidence to inform international, European and national frameworks and directives. 

ESA’s long-term satellite data records contribute directly to global climate, biodiversity and environmental assessment, supporting the work of intergovernmental bodies such as the UNFCCC and IPCC. Earth Action also provides solutions enabling business and society more broadly to benefit from this evidence – supporting investment planning and measurable outcomes linked to key global and regional commitments, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal. These solutions support action across areas ranging from clean energy, agriculture and food security to monitoring and assessing changes in land degradation, water availability and ecosystem health. 

Impact beyond the space sector

ESA’s approach to Earth Action is designed for impact beyond the space sector – where it matters most. The aim is simple: to work with our partners and end-users to develop practical solutions that support long-term planning and operational decisions to deliver real-world action at global, national and local scales. 

To mainstream the use of satellite data and resulting insights, ESA is taking a lead in adopting and demonstrating emerging digital technologies – from high‑performance computing and artificial intelligence to advanced modelling and cloud‑based processing. By testing and scaling up user‑focused approaches these technologies lower the barriers for non‑experts to access and use the wealth of available Earth observation data, turning data into timely, decision‑ready insights – from early warning to operational action. 

An information day on Earth Action took place on 28 April 2026. A recording of the event is available below.

Back to FutureEO homepage