From LandCover Change to Greenhouse Gases: An Open Geospatial Monitoring Framework (Nancy Harris)

The Open-Earth Monitor Global Workshop 2026 "Next-Generation EO & GeoAI Built on Openness and Distributed Data" 7-9 October 2026, Barcelona, Spain https://earthmonitor.org/global-workshop-2026/ Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (AFOLU) account for roughly one-quarter of global net anthropogenic emissions, yet consistent monitoring remains challenging. We present a global, open, spatially explicit monitoring framework developed by WRI’s Land & Carbon Lab and partners that combines Earth observation data, geospatial models, and IPCC inventory methods to map land-related emissions and removals from 2016–2024. Accessible through Global Nature Watch and other platforms, the system integrates datasets on land cover change, forest dynamics, fire, biomass, soils, livestock, and agricultural management. We highlight applications for governments, civil society, companies, researchers, and policymakers supporting climate action and progress tracking.