Citizen Observatories are community-driven environmental monitoring systems that bring people together to make a real difference right where they live, while also contributing to broader national and global environmental efforts.
Citizen Observatories can empower individuals to use modern mobile and web technologies, along with sensors, to collect and share valuable environmental data. This grassroots approach fills in the gaps and adds rich detail to existing Earth observation systems and official data sources, making our understanding of the environment more comprehensive than ever before. With the proper use of technology and tools, COs can create seamless communication channels between citizens, scientists, and decision-makers. This collaborative flow of data and information not only enhances scientific research but it can also play a crucial role in influencing policy changes and improving environmental governance. Citizen participation in a CO means their observations and insights, if presented properly, can directly impact decisions that shape the health and sustainability of our communities!
The CitiObs project aims to empower Citizen Observatories across Europe to create, enhance, and scale up inclusive citizen observations. By ensuring that these observations are properly presented and reliable, CitiObs enables them to play a significant role in shaping the future of urban environments and making a tangible difference in community health and well-being! CitiObs isn’t just about gathering data—it’s about recognizing and formalizing the vital contributions that citizens make. To achieve this, CitiObs provides a comprehensive set of tools and methodologies that enable Citizen Observatories to transform co-created data into actionable knowledge. This data, when reliably referenced, can influence relevant policies and decision-making processes. Additionally, CitiObs promotes inclusive participation, ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard loud and clear where it matters most.
CitiObs is a four-year project funded under Horizon Europe by the European Commission. Over its 48-month duration, CitiObs will collaborate with a total of 85 COs involving members from diverse backgrounds, authorities, scientists, and other stakeholders. Working with established COs, CitiObs strives to create, enhance, and scale up inclusive and diverse observatories, fostering citizen engagement in urban environmental monitoring. The project seeks to expand the deployment of COs as part of inclusive multi-stakeholder governance, generating validated data for policy and research, contributing to GEOSS and GEO initiatives, and co-designing local actions to address urban challenges related to pollution and climate change as part of the European Green Deal transition.
Frontrunner Cases are established Citizen Observatories in five cities — Athens, Barcelona, Dublin, Kristiansand, and Rotterdam — that have been actively working with CitiObs since the project began.
These Citizen Observatories help drive CitiObs forward by testing tools, sharing local insights, and helping refine methods based on real-world experience. Over the past years, they contributed to mentoring sessions and workshops, and piloted toolkits. The lessons learned and co-developed resources are being integrated into the CitiObs Knowledge Platform and Cookbook to support new COs and cities across Europe.
Alliance Cases are newly engaged Citizen Observatories that joined the CitiObs project to expand its reach and impact across Europe.
They collaborate closely with the Frontrunner Cases and the project team to test CitiObs tools, provide local knowledge, and adapt methodologies to diverse urban contexts. Through mentoring sessions, peer exchange, and pilot activities, the Alliance Cases help validate and scale up the project’s solutions. Their experiences and insights will be integrated into the CitiObs Knowledge Platform and Cookbook, ensuring they reflect the needs of real communities.
Fellow Cases are Citizen Observatories that joined CitiObs in early 2026, building on the experiences of the Frontrunner and Alliance Cases.
They represent communities eager to learn from what’s already been tested and proven. By following the implementation journey and results from the first two waves of Citizen Observatories, the Fellow Cases will gain access to ready-to-use CitiObs tools, guidance, and lessons via the Knowledge Platform. Their goal: to confidently adopt and apply the CitiObs approach in their own cities, knowing “it works.”
