Earth Intelligence: a new, tailored approach would enhance urban climate adaptation

Urban areas are especially vulnerable to climate change

Home to large populations and key infrastructure, cities face serious and overlapping climate risks — from extreme heat, droughts and water scarcity to coastal threats, such as hurricanes, storm surges, flooding and erosion.

The EU recognises how important it is for cities to adapt to these challenges. Key EU initiatives like the European Green Deal, the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, and the European Climate Law all highlight the need for strong urban climate action. 

A key aspect of achieving the policy objectives is using knowledge and intelligence derived from Earth Observation (EO) to enable smarter, faster, and more systemic adaptation.

Managed by the JRC and the European Commission’s Directorate-General Defence Industry and Space, the Knowledge Centre on Earth Observation (KCEO) works to improve the use of satellite data from the Copernicus programme (the Earth observation component of the EU's space programme) across EU policies. 

Their role is to connect policy needs with the right EO tools and services, and to encourage collaboration between organisations using this data. One of their methods is to carry out in-depth studies called "deep dive assessments" that look closely at specific areas — such as urban climate adaptation.

This report shares findings from a deep dive focused on how EO can support cities in adapting to climate change. It looks at EU policies requirements and the extent to which current EO services meet those needs, and it identifies the gaps and the potential improvements that could be made in the future.

The assessment covers a range of topics including:

• How EO can support goals set by the EU and Horizon Europe Missions
• Key indicators to track urban climate adaptation
• Real-life use cases, such as monitoring urban heat islands, greening cities, managing water, protecting coastal zones, and urban development in Africa

Why Earth Observation matters — and how to make it work better

While EO is already helping cities adapt to climate change, it isn’t being used to its full potential. The system that connects EO data to real-world decisions is still developing, and many opportunities are being missed. 

To make the most of satellite data, the EU would benefit from more accessible, standardised tools that can guide both local and national actions. These should include easy-to-use indicators that show combined climate risks and help monitor progress.

To get more value out of EO, the report recommends:

• Developing clear, policy-focused indicators that show risk and outcomes
• Offering more advanced services to detect climate risks and changes over time
• Creating tools that help cities explore different adaptation scenarios
• Supporting networks that share knowledge and experience in using EO for climate action
• Improving the resolution and detail of satellite data to better match city needs

A key innovation in the study is the Earth Observation Value Chain Framework – it illustrates how intelligence can be derived and synthesised using a hazard-vulnerability-exposure nexus to address a variety of user needs, culminating in cumulative policy impact. 

In short, smarter use of EO can help cities across Europe — and beyond — respond faster and more effectively to the growing challenges of climate change.

Related content

Earth Observation in support of EU policies for urban climate adaptation

Knowledge Centre on Earth Observation 

Urban Climate Adaptation Deep Dive