Oct. 15, 2025
New research tender focusses on Earth observation for climate adaptation
Proposal submission deadline is end of November
A new call for tenders focusing on the use of Earth observation data to develop innovative indicators that support more effective climate adaptation action has been launched this week by the European Space Agency (ESA).
This new activity, titled “Climate Space: Using Earth Observation for Climate Change Adaptation” is driven by the need to systematically monitor and assess progress on adaptation – a core element of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement. This global climate accord calls for enhanced capacity to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to current or anticipated climate and its effects and encourages countries to plan and take appropriate steps through National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and as part of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Earth Observation has the potential to provide significant input at all stages of the adaptation policy cycle – from planning, tracking implementation and the evaluation of adaptation actions – given the local to global coverage, repeatability of satellites and continuity of space-based data records.
The tender aims to undertake research to develop novel indicators that are grounded in, or based solely on, Earth observation data to monitor adaptation actions. The work is also expected to investigate their usability via a series of regional or sector focussed feasibility studies across climate timescales and explore potential for developing globally applicable datasets to support international adaptation policy frameworks and use by operational climate service providers.
Use of Essential Climate Variable (ECV) data products developed as part of ESA’s Climate Change Initiative is required as part of any dataset development, validation or comparability activities.
To ensure a coordinated approach to adaptation studies commissioned as part of this tender are anticipated to contribute to or complement climate adaptation initiatives undertaken by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), the Climate Change Adaptation Digital Twin or DestinationEarth which are developing adaptation projections and designing science-led and actionable adaptation strategies and mitigation measures respectively.
The deadline for proposal submission is 21/11/2025 13:00 CET. For more information interested entities are advised to visit the ESA-Star Publication Portal.
