OBSERVER: How Copernicus supports EU policies for urban climate adaptation
OBSERVER: How Copernicus supports EU policies for urban climate adaptation
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Thu, 08/05/2025 – 13:40
As European cities grapple with increasingly frequent and intense climate extremes, the need for data and models to support the design of timely, targeted adaptation has never been clearer. But how can policymakers translate Earth Observation (EO) data into meaningful local climate action? In this Observer, we look at a new report developed by the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre on Earth Observation (KCEO) examining how EO data and services, especially those from Copernicus, can better support EU urban climate adaptation policies, from monitoring Urban Heat Islands to informing local resilience strategies. The findings point to both major opportunities and persistent barriers, and introduce the Earth Observation Value Chain, a new conceptual framework which helps connect satellite data to local risk intelligence and policy impact.
Vulnerability to climate change is especially high in urban areas
Urban areas, including cities, towns, and suburbs, are home to over 75% of the EU’s population. These areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their high population density, limited green spaces, and complex infrastructure, which increase exposure to climate hazards such as extreme heat, drought, water scarcity, flooding, and coastal erosion. The European Green Deal the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, and the European Climate Law have all recognised the need for strong urban climate action, with tailored adaptation measures at local level.
However, local authorities often lack the resources or capacity to interpret complex environmental datasets. This is where EO, and specifically Copernicus, can provide an important bridge, translating large-scale satellite monitoring into insights which support local planning and policy.
A deep dive into EO and urban climate adaptation
The new report Earth Observation in Support of EU Policies for Urban Climate Adaptation, developed by the Knowledge Centre on Earth Observation (KCEO) as part of its Deep Dive series, presents an in-depth assessment of how EO products and services can support urban climate adaptation policies. Managed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, the KCEO works to increase the use of satellite data and information from Copernicus across EU policies. Each Deep Dive focuses on a specific policy domain, identifying user needs, analysing gaps in current EO offerings, and providing recommendations to strengthen the alignment between EO capabilities and policy requirements.
This edition focuses specifically on urban climate adaptation and draws on a thorough review of EU legislation, consultations with Member State experts, and technical input from Copernicus Entrusted Entities. It includes a consolidated indicator inventory and a series of use cases, both of which are used to explore how existing Copernicus data and services align with policy needs, where gaps remain, and how Copernicus can better support adaptation planning at municipal, national, and EU levels.
At the core of the report is the Earth Observation Value Chain, a conceptual model which traces how EO-derived intelligence flows from satellite observations and modelling through to risk assessment, decision support, and ultimately policy impact. It places risk, understood as a combination of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, at the centre of the process. The value chain highlights the importance of moving beyond hazard-only data, encouraging the use of compound indicators which also reflect social vulnerability and patterns of exposure.
This approach represents a shift toward more integrated, policy-ready information. By focusing on usability and relevance, the EO Value Chain shows how Earth Observation can support every stage of adaptation planning—from scenario modelling to real-time monitoring and the evaluation of outcomes.
From data to decision-making
Earth Observation data can support urban adaptation in a range of ways: identifying areas of high exposure, assessing the vulnerability of populations and infrastructure, and tracking the effectiveness of adaptation measures over time. In particular, satellite-based products from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) provide relevant datasets for urban areas, including data on land surface temperature, vegetation cover, and imperviousness.
The report highlights how these datasets can support both strategic planning and on-the-ground interventions in urban areas, illustrated through a series of dedicated use cases. One use case in the report, developed with DG REGIO, looks at how Earth Observation can support urban adaptation to extreme heat by improving the monitoring of Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects. It highlights the need for better indicators to track where and when people are most exposed to heat, how UHI affects infrastructure and health, and how this information can support planning at local and EU level. The use case points to Copernicus datasets such as land surface temperature and imperviousness as useful sources for identifying areas where cooling or greening measures may be most needed. Other datasets identified in the report, such as time series on land use change, can inform zoning and building regulations, while historical and projected climate data can support long-term adaptation planning.
However, the translation of EO insights into policy action remains uneven across Europe. Local uptake often depends on technical capacity and available skills, data accessibility, and the presence of intermediary actors or platforms which can tailor EO information to urban needs.
Bridging the gap between EO and local policy
The report identifies several factors which can limit the uptake of Earth Observation in urban adaptation planning. While Copernicus provides a wide range of valuable data, not all products are immediately usable at the city or district level. In some cases, greater spatial detail, more frequent updates, or complementary data sources may be needed to fully address local needs. As highlighted in several use cases, tailoring EO information to urban contexts and supporting its application through accessible tools and guidance, remains essential for translating data into effective action on the ground.
In addition, many urban policymakers and planners are not EO specialists. They often rely on intermediaries—such as consultants, national agencies, or local research institutions—to interpret and apply EO data. This can create a dependency and limits the capacity of local authorities to build internal expertise.
To address these challenges, the report calls for greater emphasis on usability. This includes adapting products to be more “policy ready”, improving documentation and user guidance, and supporting platforms which deliver pre-processed, tailored information and indicators. It also encourages closer collaboration between EO service providers and city authorities from the earliest stages of product design.
Recommendations and the way forward
The report concludes with a several recommendations aimed at increasing the impact of EO on urban climate adaptation policy including:
- Developing clear, policy-focused indicators which show combined climate risks and measurable adaptation outcomes.
- Offering more advanced services to detect climate risks and monitor environmental changes over time.
- Creating tools which help cities explore adaptation scenarios, assess trade-offs, and support evidence-based planning.
- Supporting networks which share knowledge and experience in applying EO to local climate action.
- Improving the resolution and detail of satellite data to better align Copernicus data and products with the operational needs of urban stakeholders.
Together, these recommendations point to a more integrated and user-focused approach to applying Earth Observation in urban climate adaptation. The full report, including the complete indicator inventory, detailed use cases, and recommendations can be accessed at the link below.
Thu, 08/05/2025 – 12:00
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