Global monitoring the world, Envisat

ESA is working closely with its partners in Europe to give policy-makers the most reliable, consistent and up-to-date information possible on global climate change.

The European Commission, the European Environment Agency, EUMETSAT and ESA are setting up the GMES system, Global Monitoring for Environment and Security. GMES started with satellites that are already in orbit today. It is progressively replacing them with improved, new satellites that will continuously monitor the most sensitive parts of the climate system over the next 20 years and beyond.

Satellite observations of the polar regions, of glaciers, of ocean temperatures, of forests, of greenhouse gases, clouds and aerosols will be combined with measurements taken in-situ to improve climate models and predictions. This information will provide a vital reality check to help scientists, politicians and citizens better understand and respond to the effects of climate change that we will all face in the coming decades.