Send message to Author

Short Abstract

Citizen Observatories empower citizens to co-create, share, and validate data, supporting the Green Deal’s goals on climate, energy, and sustainability. By blending sensing, IoT, and participatory methods, they foster democratic, evidence-based decisions for urban resilience and inclusiveness.

Abstract

The European Green Deal sets ambitious objectives for addressing climate change, environmental sustainability, and energy transition. Achieving these goals requires not only technological innovation but also new forms of citizen engagement in data-driven governance. Citizen Observatories (COs) represent a powerful paradigm for promoting democratic participation by empowering citizens to contribute, share, and validate environmental and social data. By leveraging pervasive sensing, mobile devices, social platforms, and co-creation methodologies, COs enable communities to actively monitor their environment, generate trusted data, and influence evidence-based policymaking. This presentation explores the role of Citizen Observatories in supporting Green Deal priorities, particularly in areas such as air quality, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, and urban resilience. Drawing from recent European projects such as SOCIO-BEE, GREENGAGE, and HARMONIE, we highlight methodologies for engaging diverse communities, integrating citizen-generated data with official sources, and ensuring interoperability through Semantic Web and IoT technologies. Furthermore, we discuss challenges related to data quality, inclusiveness, governance models, and long-term sustainability of CO initiatives. By combining scientific excellence with participatory approaches, Citizen Observatories can foster more democratic, transparent, and effective decision-making processes. Ultimately, they provide a pathway for aligning citizen contributions with institutional strategies, ensuring that the Green Deal evolves as a truly collective effort.