From Data to information and Policy to Implementation (Fred Stolle)

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/ Satellite data have transformed our ability to observe land-use dynamics, forest change, and environmental pressures at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales. Yet a critical challenge remains: translating vast volumes of data into actionable information that meaningfully informs policy and leads to real-world implementation. This talk highlights the importance of open and transparent data, with a particular emphasis on the ease of accessing information and answering practical questions using data to drive evidence-based decision-making. It underscores the need to integrate satellite-derived land-use and forest data, along with information on change and its impacts on climate, nature, and people, into operational platforms and planning processes. By doing so, governments, supply chains, and local stakeholders can better assess risks, target interventions, and track outcomes. Transforming data into decision-ready insights is essential for strengthening land-use governance, advancing sustainable forest management, and delivering measurable environmental and social impacts.