The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued the Climate Change Initiative Next Generation (CCI-NG) Invitation to Tender as part of its Earth Action Programme. As a research and development programme, CCI-NG will fund up to 20 research contracts to advance long-term, global, satellite-based climate data records of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). Proposals can be submitted until 13:00 CET on 16 December 2026.
A new generation of climate records
CCI-NG builds on ESA's Climate Change Initiative (CCI), which has developed satellite climate records for key components of the Earth system since 2010. The new tender covers 20 ECVs across the atmosphere, terrestrial, cryosphere and ocean domains.
Over 36 months, selected project teams will be charged with delivering and exploiting consistent, multi-sensor climate data records with characterised uncertainties. They will for example improve algorithms, validate satellite products against independent reference observations and integrate data from new European missions with improved records from earlier satellites. Projects will also demonstrate the value of these records through user case studies and scientific assessment.
Responding to the needs of the climate community
The new initiative addresses updated requirements from the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Seventh Assessment Report cycle of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) Global Goal on Adaptation. Additionally, the programme will build closer links between observation and modelling communities, such as the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) and the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX). The research will support the information needs of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, climate-modelling and reanalysis communities, and operational climate services.
Submit your proposal
Interested entities are invited to review the tender documentation and submit their proposals via the ESA-Star Publication Portal by 13:00 CET on 16 December 2026 (Tender Action Number: 1-13700, Activity Number: 1000047271).