In 2023, Copernicus celebrated its 25th anniversary with events across Europe. The year marked significant achievements, including the integration of nine EU startups, the launch of the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (CDSE) for enhanced data accessibility, and the establishment of four Copernicus Thematic Hubs focusing on health, coastal areas, energy, and the Arctic.
The CDSE, a cloud-based infrastructure, already boasts over 120,000 registered users. Copernicus also played a crucial role in monitoring extreme weather events during the summer, including wildfires and heatwaves. Additionally, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) tracked emissions from wildfires, while the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) responded to fire and flood incidents in Europe. The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported the highest global surface air temperature for July. The year also saw the publication of the 1000th 'Image of the Day,' showcasing diverse Earth observations captured by Copernicus Sentinel satellites.
Looking ahead to 2024, Copernicus aims to build on these accomplishments to ensure continued open access to its data.
