CitiObs in Action

In spring 2025, the CitiObs took a significant step forward by welcoming 30 new Alliance Cases (ACs) to our growing community of Citizen Observatories (COs). Selected from over 50 applications, these new partners reflect the growing momentum behind citizen-led environmental monitoring and action across Europe.

The entry into force of the new European Ambient Air Quality Directive has opened new horizons for improving the quality of the air we breathe. The Directive breathes fresh life into its outdated 2008 ‘big sister’ as it establishes stricter and more protective air quality limits that are close to the World Health Organisation recommendations.

Over the past decade, low-cost sensor (LCS) networks for air quality monitoring have surged across Europe. However, despite their growing popularity, LCS data often suffer from inconsistency, poor quality, and lack of standardization.

It’s 2025 and that marks the start of the third year of CitiObs! We have had an amazing two years working together as a consortium and building strong connections with our stakeholders and Citizen Observatories. We have a lot planned for the coming year but first, we wanted to take a moment to appreciate the cases that started it all—the Front Runners.

Since November 2023, the Front Runner Case (FRC) in Barcelona has been thriving! Insights gathered during the Citizen Observatory onboarding workshop were carefully evaluated, prioritized, and transformed into key actions for 2024.

Environmental challenges are growing concerns for communities around the world. Citizen participation in monitoring efforts has become a powerful way to address these challenges, but many Citizen Observatories face technical hurdles when using tools like sensors.

We’re excited to announce an Open Call for Citizen Science Initiatives & Citizen Observatories across Europe to join CitiObs as Alliance Cases. This is a fantastic opportunity for existing Citizen Observatories and citizen-led initiatives to collaborate with us, scale up their activities, and share best practices.their activities, and share best practices.

There is power in coming together, sharing knowledge, and working collaboratively towards a common goal. As we move forward, we are inspired and motivated by the possibilities that lie ahead.

In this post our consortium partners Milena Calvo Juarez and Oscar Gozalez , Fab Lab Barcelona delve into the dynamic knowledge exchange that unfolded during the first collaborative workshop in the context of the Barcelona Frontrunner case.

In this post, our consortium partners Kelsey Wentling and Uta Wehn, IHE Delft, elaborate on the intricacies of stakeholder participation dynamics in Citizen Observatories, recognizing the pivotal role such dynamics play in determining the success and sustainability of Citizen Observatories. 

Our consortium partner Karin Ekman engages with residents of Fiskåtangen, Kristiansand, in a Mutual Learning Workshop to explore the achievements, obstacles, and lessons of their initiative monitoring emissions from the nearby industry.

Consortium partner Eline Verhoeven reflects on Rotterdam's first Mutual Learning Workshop

Consortium partner Joao Paulo Tavares highlights the significance of CitiObs' Mutual Learning Workshops

Within the scope of the CitiObs project's focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion, Consortium Partner Andrea Reyes Elizondo investigates the complexities associated with the term "People of Colour".

Our consortium partners, Jessica Carmen Guy and Óscar González from Fab Lab Barcelona | IAAC share insights on the process of the development of the Citizen-Led Action Toolkit.

Consortium Partner Margaret Gold reflects on the foundations for equality, diversity and inclusion being laid in the project during the first half year.

Dive into the thoughts of CitiObs’ Coordinator Núria Castell