WP7 D7.10 Creation of International Community of Citizen Observers v1

The GREENGAGE project, funded under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, seeks to enhance urban governance and citizen participation in environmental monitoring, aligning with the objectives of the European Green Deal. By leveraging the capabilities of GREENGAGE Observatories, the project empowers citizens to actively engage in data collection and analysis related to environmental challenges such as air quality, mobility, and urban living conditions. This approach aims to complement traditional top-down governmental strategies with a bottom-up perspective, fostering more informed and inclusive policymaking. This deliverable, D7.10, titled “Creation of the International Community of Citizen Observers,” documents the progress made in establishing a self-sustaining community of citizen observers across Europe. The deliverable outlines the strategic approaches, methodologies, and initial outcomes related to the formation of the International Community of Citizen Observers (CoCO) and the creation of the online platform hosted at citizenobservers.eu1. This platform serves as the central hub for communication, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among CoCO members, including citizen observers, researchers, and practitioners. Key accomplishments highlighted in this deliverable include the mapping of relevant Citizen Observatories (CO) across various European projects, the development and configuration of the citizenobservers.eu platform, and the establishment of the GREENGAGE Academy. These efforts have laid the groundwork for a collaborative and inclusive network that will continue to contribute to environmental initiatives across Europe. Looking forward, the deliverable outlines the next steps for expanding the community, enhancing platform functionalities, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the CoCO. This includes developing an independent governance structure, securing diverse funding sources, building strategic partnerships, and encouraging active community ownership. Additionally, the GREENGAGE Academy will be expanded to offer a broader range of educational resources, further supporting the community’s growth and capacity-building. Overall, this deliverable not only reports on the current progress but also serves as a strategic guide for the ongoing development and scaling of the CoCO. The ultimate goal is to establish a self-sustaining community that will continue to support citizen-led environmental initiatives across Europe well into the future.