Evolving Earth observation capabilities for recent land-related EU policies
Katja Berger, Saskia Foerster, Zoltan Szantoi, Patrick Hostert, Michael Foerster, Ruben Van De Kerchove, Christelle Vancutsem, Christian Schweitzer, Robert N. Masolele, Johannes Reiche, Mark Dowell, Fabian Enßle, Daniela Requena Suárez, Olga Nepomshina, Martin Herold
Abstract
Earth observation (EO) provides a powerful tool for evidence-based policy-making in the European Union (EU) and globally. We are entering a golden age of EO science, in which the availability of high-quality, ever-increasing data converges with the growing demand for monitoring land-use changes and evaluating the impact of policies. This comes at a crucial time, as the EU has recently adopted ambitious environmental and agricultural policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Regulation on Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (EU LULUCF), and the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), whose implementation and effectiveness will rely on robust EO-based monitoring tools. Encouragingly, existing EO capacities, particularly through the Copernicus Programme, already provide a strong foundation for policy support. However, our synthesis reveals that current information products only partially meet the monitoring and compliance needs of these policies. Fully unlocking the potential of EO will require advancements in temporal resolution (approaching near-real-time), spatial resolution (≤ 5 m), and rigorous uncertainty quantification. The forthcoming Copernicus Expansion and Next Generation missions can help close these gaps, particularly if new products are co-designed with stakeholders and end-users. By strategically aligning technical innovations with policy priorities, EO stands to become a transformative enabler of the EU’s sustainability ambitions.