Five years on: EC and ESA reflect on Earth science alliance

Five years on, the Earth System Science Initiative – a strategic alliance between the European Commission and ESA – has become one of the most ambitious frameworks for environmental research and innovation on the planet.

Launched in 2020 to boost Europe’s leadership in understanding a rapidly changing Earth, the initiative has grown into a powerhouse of scientific integration. With more than 100 projects funded, the initiative connects a thriving scientific community tackling urgent issues from melting ice and ocean health to climate extremes and atmospheric change.

At this week’s Living Planet Symposium, a high-level Agora session brought together institutional leaders and top scientists to reflect on the initiative’s progress and further chart its future. Among the highlights: the joint launch of new methane research projects, aimed at decoding one of the most potent and least understood greenhouse gases.

“Europe must lead with knowledge’, said ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, “This initiative is about empowering society with the environmental intelligence it needs to act decisively.”

“What makes the initiative unique is its joint approach: aligning EU policy priorities with ESA’s scientific capabilities, connecting selected scientific activities, strategically and operationally, in terms of goals, content, and planning. This coordinated strategy means Europe can act at scale – combining unique and increasing European space-based capabilities, AI-enabled models and disciplinary expertise to generate trusted, policy-ready knowledge.”

Looking ahead, the EC–ESA alliance seeks to deepen its impact and reinforce Europe’s strategic autonomy in environmental intelligence, ensuring that open, trusted science continues to inform the decisions that shape a liveable, secure, and sustainable future for all.