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Description
Formerly known as GMES – Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, Copernicus is the European Programme for the establishment of a European capacity for Earth Observation. It aims to achieve the uninterrupted provision of accurate and reliable data and information in six thematic areas: land, marine, atmosphere, climate change, emergency management and security.
Objectives
- Develop a network of systems that collect, process and distribute reliable and up-to-date information on environmental and security issues.
- Provide policy makers and public authorities with information to develop environmental legislation and policies or to take critical decisions in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster or a humanitarian crisis.
- Provide new economic opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in user-driven services.
Structure
The Copernicus Programme is coordinated and managed by the European Commission. The development of the observation infrastructure is performed under the aegis of the European Space Agency for the space component and of the European Environment Agency and the Member States for the in situ component.
Total EU budget
The financial envelope for the period 2014-2020 is EUR 3.78 billion.
EEA Status
The Regulation establishing the Copernicus Programme was incorporated into the EEA Agreement on 14 November 2014, foreseeing participation from Iceland.