CONCERTO successfully hosted its first online General Assembly (GA) meeting on 8 July 2025. Bringing together 35 participants from all partner organisations, the virtual gathering served as an important opportunity to reflect on progress made during the first six months of the project and to strengthen collaboration across the consortium.

Each partner took the floor to share updates on their respective work packages, offering valuable insights into the achievements, ongoing activities, and upcoming plans. The presentations highlighted the diverse range of expertise within the consortium and demonstrated the collective commitment to advancing the project’s goals. In particular, early results from data collection, stakeholder engagement, and methodological development attracted keen interest, setting the stage for deeper integration of efforts in the coming phases.

The meeting was not only informative but also interactive, with an active constructive discussion following the partner updates. Participants raised thoughtful questions and shared ideas that underscored the importance of cross-cutting cooperation and knowledge exchange. This dynamic exchange reinforced the project’s inclusive and collaborative spirit, fostering a shared vision for the work ahead.

A highlight in the meeting was the announcement that the next in-person consortium gathering will take place from 24-25 February 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. This upcoming event will mark the first year of CONCERTO and provide a valuable opportunity for deeper engagement, hands-on collaboration and strategic planning for the upcoming stages of the project.

The GA concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm across the consortium. The success of this first online meeting reflects both the strong foundations of the CONCERTO partnership and its readiness to address the complex challenges at the heart of the project.

Between 23-27 June 2025, Vienna, Austria, hosted the Living Planet Symposium, a conference held by the European Space Agency. This year’s event brought together leading scientists, policy-makers, and practitioners to explore how satellite data and Earth system science can contribute to addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

Dr Manuela Balzarolo, CONCERTO’s coordinator, represented the project and contributed to the symposium's thematic focus on climate action. Dr Balzarolo delivered a presentation in the "Carbon Budget Reconciliation Challenge" session, where she highlighted the role of Earth observation data and process-based models in reducing uncertainties surrounding carbon dynamics. Her intervention underscored how the integration of scientific tools and robust data is essential for informing policies that are aligned with climate targets.

In addition to the presentation, Dr Balzarolo participated in a roundtable discussion focused on the importance of reconciling the global carbon budget. The dialogue offered valuable perspectives on how a deeper understanding of carbon fluxes can strengthen the effectiveness of international climate frameworks and mitigation strategies.

The symposium also served as a platform to foster collaboration within the research community. Notably, Dr Ruben Valbuena introduced CONCERTO’s sister project, NextGenCarbon, highlighting complementary approaches and shared goals. The interaction between the two projects is expected to enhance their collective impact and support more integrated solutions for monitoring and managing the Earth’s carbon cycle.

The first CONCERTO newsletter is officially published, offering a snapshot of the project’s key developments and achievements during its initial six months. 

This edition highlights our progress in building a strong collaborative foundation, launching outreach efforts, and initiating early scientific and communication activities. It also provides insight into the diverse contributions of our partners, and showcases the momentum we’ve built across multiple fronts, from stakeholder engagement to knowledge sharing.

We invite you to read the full newsletter and explore how CONCERTO is building a collaborative path toward climate resilience through nature-based solutions and cross-sectoral cooperation.