During the conference high-level representatives and decision makers from the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET), the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as international experts from the science domain and industry discussed the current state of the European public, scientific and industrial land monitoring capacities in face of increasing international competition.
Overall, the participants confirmed that the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) is providing essential information for effective environment and climate change related policy-making and planning by European, national, regional and municipal actors across the EU. The Copernicus programme is perceived worldwide as the most advanced Earth observation monitoring programme, creating leverage through a full systemic approach encompassing space and in situ dimensions and core information services as well as user uptake and commercialisation initiatives. Further, the full, free and open access to Copernicus services, and their long-term continuity over decades, ensure that European citizens, businesses and public authorities have guaranteed access to up-to-date, high-quality, authenticated information on the status, change, and trends in land cover and land use in their neighbourhood. In this context, the European land monitoring information products and services are triggering many national-level initiatives, and stimulating activities to assemble more complete, consistent and timely land monitoring information at all scales across Europe. To further strengthen the application capacity at regional level, it was considered important that EO space industry, amongst other via the instruments offered by the H2020 programme continues to get the opportunity to participate in the design and definition of future land monitoring service products. From a generic perspective, it was acknowledged that co-design and co-production, as is today the case via EEA’s Eionet network involvement in CLMS, is key to ensure trust in the produced geospatial information.
We again thank everyone who attended to the conference. Your participation and contribution was greatly appreciated and helped us provide a valuable event for all.
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