An EU-funded initiative linking the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Global Climate Observing System and the Group on Earth Observations reported that climate services face problems at both ends of the data chain, according to a project update published on 27 August 2026. Critical gaps in Earth observations remain, monitoring networks face growing pressure, and good data often fails to reach users in a usable form.

The iClimateAction project drew that conclusion from international meetings held between April and July 2026. At the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch Symposium in Geneva, participants stressed that coordination across institutions and programmes matters as much as the science, citing urban climate as an area spanning atmospheric composition, weather, climate research and long-term observation. A follow-up workshop explored a potential Global Heat Resilience Service intended to help cities combine satellite and meteorological observations with health, housing, infrastructure and vulnerability information.

At the June 2026 GEO Symposium, an iClimateAction-led session identified fragmentation as a persistent obstacle, with climate information spread across platforms and institutions using differing methods and standards. Participants described artificial intelligence as a potentially powerful tool for complex datasets, but said technology cannot resolve structural fragmentation without interoperability, common standards, transparency, sustained cooperation and equitable access. The project said its aim is to bring institutions, data systems and users closer together so that observations inform decisions.