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08/05/2026
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How can Earth observation data play a more central role in guiding future decisions on the environment? This was one of the questions asked at an ESA-hosted event that brought together leaders from Earth observation science with the global statistics community.
The challenges of integrating data for policymaking were discussed, as well as what can be achieved when the best of both worlds – statistics and Earth observation – come together. Held at the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Esrin site in Italy, the StatEO26 conference saw the participation of numerous partners and co-organisers, including several European Commission departments, United Nations agencies as well as other institutional and academic organisations.
Discussions on use of Earth observation data at StatEO26
This is the first time that such a conference has been organised by ESA. Engaging both the Earth observation and statistical communities, the event is a major step towards the integration of Earth observation data for official statistical purposes – a strategic aim of all of the participating organisations.
Giuseppe Ottavianelli, Head of Applications for ESA’s Earth Observation Programmes directorate, noted, “This is the first time ESA has organised an official event for interaction between Earth observation science experts and statistics professionals. We want to make sure that these two communities continue to work closely to build an understanding of what can be achieved by integrating Earth observation satellite data into official statistics.”
The event enabled Earth observation data scientists to understand statistical requirements, while also providing insights for statisticians on the technical possibilities of Earth monitoring systems.
Plenary sessions and workshops focused on exploring how to optimise Earth observation data for purposes such as natural capital assessments, agricultural monitoring and greenhouse gas emissions reporting. The participants discussed capacity building and enhancing the accuracy, timeliness, and spatial granularity of key metrics.
This is the first time that such a conference has been organised by ESA.
ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes and Head of Esrin, Simonetta Cheli, also noted the importance of collaboration in this area. She added, “We want to accelerate how we use Earth observation to support European and global policies for environmental sustainability. ESA’s Earth observation systems are producing reference-quality satellite data. Operational infrastructure such as the Copernicus programme are crucial ways in which the space community supports and sustains policymaking in Europe.”
Earth observation in official statistics
In 2021, the Warsaw Memorandum called for an increased use of Earth observation data in official statistics, and for closer cooperation between ESA and the European Statistical System. In the intervening years there have been several projects looking at the use of Earth observation data. This week, StatEO26 is the first event dedicated to bringing together the European Earth observation and statistical communities to share experiences and assess progress towards this goal.
Satellite data are increasingly used to provide official statistics on land use, ecosystem accounting, agricultural production, construction monitoring and many other indicators. Earth observation has also proven to be a key tool in national assessments of progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals – yet uptake remains patchy. Despite the potential of Earth observation, there are still significant challenges that need to be overcome, and a key aim of StatEO26 is to explore how these issues can be addressed together.
The event is co-organised with DG ESTAT, DG JRC, DG DEFIS, DG ENV, EARSC, EEA, OECD, UNSD, FAO, UNECE, UNEP WCMC, University of Hannover, and Biodiversity Alliance & CIAT.
Catch up with each day’s discussions
You can watch the recordings from each day of the conference at the following links on Youtube:
The StatEO26 conference was held at ESA’s Esrin site in Italy.
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