News in 2026
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This publication, Surveying for Climate
Resilience: Practical Climate Actions, spanning land, water, and
marine surveying – highlights the essential role of surveying
professionals in advancing climate resilience. The publication is the result of the work in the FIG Climate Compass Task Force (2023-2026) and offers practical strategies and realworld examples to support climate adaptation, mitigation, and disaster resilience at national and local levels. With its 16 highlevel Climate Actions, this publication marks a significant milestone for FIG. The publication is written and edited by Chair of the Task Force, Clarissa Augustinus. A large thanks to Clarissa for her work with the task force, hereunder the preparations of the Regional Conference in Nepal in 2024, her lead on the climate sessions at the recent Working Weeks, and to compile all these findings into this significant publication. |
Contributing authors of the publication are Uchendu Eugene Chigbu, Charisse Griffith-Charles, Simon Ironside, Eranda Gunathilaka and Rigoberto Moreno Vazquez. The other members of the task force who have supported this work are Angela Anyakora, David Elegbede, Naa Dedi Tagoe, Cromwell Manaloto, Enrico Rispoli and Maria Scorza.
Humanity is dealing with a global climate crisis, with disproportionate impact on vulnerable regions, countries and people especially in the global south. Surveyors have a major role to play supporting the adaptation and mitigation of climate impacts at the global, national and local levels. They can support the achievement of the climate goals and environmental sustainability, economic growth and the land rights of people. Practical surveying actions, methods and tools for climate resilience, for land, water and marine are identified in this publication.
Long-term geospatial and hydrospatial and land administration systems data collection are foundations for territorial governance, in the context of climate resilience. This data links the physical, legal, economic and environmental dimensions. It provides vital information for: Climate-related policy development; Long-term climate monitoring and management; Identification of risks; Adaptation and mitigation measures; Effective land, water and marine management; Support to decision-makers managing the climate crisis. New technologies such as geospatial databases, historical and current Earth Observation (EO) data, large time series data analysis, AI tools, and other spatial and temporal innovations have enhanced the surveyors’ critical role in the management of climate impacts.
The 16 Critical Climate Actions of Surveyors, 2025. Graphic courtesy of U.E. Chigbu
Many surveyors in the industry have traditionally supported the USD287.6 trillion global residential real estate market. The climate crisis is creating opportunities for surveyors, government, the private sector, academia and industry to move to new business models that support climate resilience. The development of these business models is now a growing industry able to support multiple workflows going beyond business as usual. Surveyors use of geospatial technology is evolving rapidly to meet climate and disaster challenges, also as there are new markets for their skills. Solutions need to cross the digital divide of the global north and global south to ensure global and national environmental goals are met for people and the planet.
Louise Friis-Hansen
5 February 2026
