Renewing their commitment to tackle climate change, EUMETSAT and the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) have reaffirmed their long-standing cooperation to better the European Union’s climate strategies
Both organisations emphasised their shared goal of supporting the EU’s 2030 climate targets and its broader goals of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
A joint approach to climate strategies
DG CLIMA plays a key role in formulating and enforcing the European Commission’s climate policies. Achieving the EU’s ambitious climate neutrality goal depends on informed decision-making and reliable and timely access to Earth observation data.
EUMETSAT is important in providing this data and the scientific basis for evaluating climate trends, assessing risks, and guiding legislative measures.
The collaboration between EUMETSAT and DG CLIMA ensures that policymakers can access accurate, long-term climate data, which is fundamental to crafting effective climate responses and tracking their success.
The importance of high-quality satellite data
EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, has always been at the forefront of collecting and processing critical climate data from space.
EUMETSAT’s satellite missions provide an essential foundation for understanding the Earth’s changing climate, from greenhouse gas concentrations and ozone levels to aerosols and cloud dynamics.
Its contributions extend to flagship European initiatives such as the Copernicus Earth observation programme and Destination Earth, a digital twin of our planet designed to model climate processes and simulate future scenarios. These platforms enhance climate monitoring capabilities and offer actionable insights to governments, researchers, and businesses.
Technology as a climate ally
Innovation plays a central role in the renewed collaboration. EUMETSAT invests in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to optimise data analysis and provide faster, more accurate forecasts and climate assessments. Such technological advancements are becoming increasingly important as the frequency and severity of extreme weather events rise across Europe.
Between 1980 and 2020, Europe suffered between €450 billion and €520 billion in damages due to extreme weather, alongside the tragic loss of at least 85,000 lives. These figures underline the urgent need for advanced monitoring tools to anticipate better, mitigate, and respond to climate-related disasters.
Strengthening resilience and competitiveness
This strengthened partnership signals more than scientific collaboration, it shows a joint commitment to fostering resilience across the EU. Access to detailed climate data enables countries to better prepare for natural hazards, adapt infrastructure, and implement effective sustainability strategies.
Continued investment in European satellite capabilities promises to support economic growth. By driving innovation in climate technologies, the partnership is expected to deliver bigger benefits to EU citizens and businesses, making Europe greener and more competitive globally.
As the climate crisis intensifies, alliances between EUMETSAT and DG CLIMA will be crucial in ensuring Europe remains a global leader in environmental stewardship and climate strategies.
