Executive summary The collective ability to measure the built environment and natural phenomena through Earth observation (EO) continues to increase in precision and scale. With thousands of possible applications, the potential value of this data is vast and growing; however, the overwhelming majority of this value remains unrealized, largely because of flagging adoption rates. Some of the root causes of this flagging adoption are beginning to be addressed by a growing number of actors across the EO ecosystem. New commercial EO providers increasingly provide unique data sources that are right-sized to individual organizations’ contexts, while traditional open-source government EO providers continue to improve the accessibility of their larger datasets. However, this boom in supply-side innovation, with EO data becoming easier to use and more valuable than ever before, does not mean that EO is always the best solution for every challenge an organization faces. Because of the nearly limitless potential applications of EO, end users can gain a competitive edge by understanding where and how it is best suited to provide value. Unlocking EO’s potential requires strategic alignment with organizational objectives, a clear identification of high-value applications, and a nuanced approach to implementation that goes beyond traditional technology adoption frameworks. In essence, to successfully incorporate EO into planning and operations, organizations should follow a three-step process to build a compelling case for adoption: Articulating the value proposition: EO can offer insights into a variety of organizational issues; however, where it is uniquely positioned to generate value often depends on the key physical and temporal dimensions of the issue at hand. Begin by clearly identifying the issue at hand that EO is uniquely positioned to solve and the benefits of using EO compared to, or as a complement to, alternative solutions. These issues, typically grouped into broadly applicable categories, focus on strategic issues related to understanding an organization’s reliance on both natural and humanmade assets. EO excels when addressing large-scale areas, frequent data collection needs, ecosystem-wide issues, trend analysis through historical data, and integrating spatial with non- spatial data. Bolstering strategic alignment: When identifying a problem EO can best solve, it is important to align that problem to the organization’s strategic objectives to build a compelling case for return on investment. It is important to position EO initiatives as organizational priorities rather than as standalone projects. An EO-enabled solution often generates cross-functional value for the portfolios of the entire executive leadership team, from strategy to finance, technology, operations and sustainability. Charting the execution strategy: Effective EO integration demands nuance, especially when assessing technical readiness and expertise, establishing governance, and navigating the complex EO ecosystem of data, platform and tool providers. The best approach for implementing EO is often context-specific, and there is no one-size- fits-all solution. Organizations should determine when to leverage open-source data, when to partner with commercial providers, and how to blend EO insights with proprietary data to generate actionable intelligence. Who is this playbook for? This playbook is designed for senior executives, strategists and decision-makers across private, public and non-profit sectors who are considering how EO can help reach their organizational goals. It empowers leaders aiming to leverage environmental intelligence for strategic planning, operational resilience and sustainable growth. It provides practical resources to help organizations align EO with high-level goals across functional areas including strategy, finance, technology, operations and sustainability. i12 3 The Executive’s Playbook on Earth Observation: Strategic Insights for a Changing Planet 4

The Executive%E2%80%99s Playbook on Earth Observation 2025