In early 2026, iClimateAction (iCA) hosted a series of technical webinars to gear up for an important meeting in Harwell, United Kingdom, from February 9-13. This meeting will gather experts in climate observations and data from around the world, including key players from the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The goal? To support the upcoming GCOS Status Report and enhance future planning and coordination efforts.
The webinars aimed to offer participants a clear understanding of how climate data is structured and used today. Paolo Laj, the iClimateAction Coordinator, emphasized that these sessions were meant to quickly prepare everyone for deeper discussions at Harwell. Instead of getting bogged down in basics, attendees could delve into identifying gaps, setting priorities, and planning actionable steps.
One key topic was the SAGE Data Space. Mark Dietrich, its technical coordinator, explained that this European initiative supports the European Green Deal by improving access to environmental data. What makes SAGE unique is its approach—data owners keep control. Instead of hosting data, SAGE connects existing sources, allowing organizations to maintain governance, visibility, and access rights. This setup is crucial, especially for sharing sensitive information. Real-life examples highlighted how improved data connectivity can streamline efforts in areas like forest management and environmental risk mapping, ultimately enhancing reporting efficiency.
Another important discussion focused on ENVRI-Hub NEXT, led by Marta Gutierrez David of the EGI Foundation. This initiative aims to link Europe’s major environmental research infrastructures that gather observations from the atmosphere, land, oceans, and ecosystems. Despite having high-quality data, a major challenge remains: this information is often scattered and inconsistent. ENVRI-Hub NEXT seeks to solve this by creating a unified access layer for data, allowing comparisons and combinations without centralizing it. A significant focus is on making data user-friendly, enabling easier access to information by location or time rather than pulling entire datasets.
Lastly, the GEO Knowledge Hub was introduced by Paola De Salvo. This project tackles the issue of preserving and reusing knowledge derived from Earth observation data. While many data sets are open and accessible, the tools and methods for utilizing this data can often get lost after projects conclude. The GEO Knowledge Hub curates “knowledge packages” that include everything from datasets to training materials, ensuring valuable insights remain available even after funding ends.
Together, these webinars laid the groundwork for the Harwell meeting, presenting diverse strategies for trusted data sharing and accessible knowledge. Discussions from these sessions are expected to directly influence the GCOS Status Report and shape future climate data coordination.
By focusing on practical solutions and collaborative efforts, these initiatives highlight the urgent need to improve how we manage and utilize climate data. In a world increasingly impacted by climate change, coordinated action and accessible information are essential.
For further reading on climate initiatives, visit Global Climate Observing System.
Source link
climate data, Earth observation, GCOS, iClimateAction, GEO, WMO, data sharing, open knowledge
