Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is the most ambitious Earth observation programme to date. It will provide accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve environment management, and also to help understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. GMES is headed by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). GMES, with the addition of the Sentinel satellites, will be an operational system delivering a constant flow of data. This Video explains what GMES is, and gives an update on its current status.
More background information can be found on: http://www.esa.int/esaLP/LPgmes.html