Skip to main content
European Commission logo
en
Energy, Climate change, Environment
Environment

Green Data

The European Green Deal Data Space (GDDS) is a groundbreaking initiative aiming to leverage the power of data to support EU environmental and climate policies.

The GDDS is a shared digital platform open to businesses, public entities, academia, civil society, and citizens. It allows for the sharing, exchanging, and trading of environmental data within a secure and interoperable digital environment. The platform aims to increase data access and promote re-use, supporting data-driven product development and fostering a mature data economy that aligns with the Green Deal's goals.

Additionally, it simplifies companies' monitoring and reporting obligations by offering access to relevant data, digital tools, and cost-effective verification services. These services assess carbon footprint, recycled content, and environmental impacts.

MareNostrum supercomputer, Spain - Symbolic and creative images

Background

The Green Data 4 All (GD4A) initiative was announced in the European strategy for data to support the EU’s digital and green transformation. The ambition of the Green Data for All initiative is to simplify rules for environmental data sharing and ensure that the right data reaches the right person at the right time and in the appropriate format:  

  • For environmental policymaking
  • To reduce burden of reporting
  • To optimise environmental processes such as Environmental Impact Assessments for faster permitting
  • As a contribution to the single market for data to boost green innovation potential  

The European strategy for data, published in February 2020, introduced the concept of a Common European Data Space, a single market for the access, exchange and re-use of data in a trusted and secure environment.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the GDDS are:

  • Creating a seamless data ecosystem to support both a competitive digital economy and ambitious environmental objectives.
  • Simplifying reporting tasks for companies to comply with due diligence requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free products (EUDR) , the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
  • Extending due diligence in post-consumption stages to gather data that facilitates a circular economy.
  • Fueling innovation and enabling the development of data products and services in a thriving data economy.
  • Leveraging AI to enhance resource management and environmental monitoring by using high-quality environmental data.

Implementation

The European Commission is driving the creation of a fully operational GDDS through the Digital Europe Programme, aiming to improve access to environmental data across the EU. The SAGE project is currently building 10 different use cases across four strategic Green Deal actions:

  1. Forest Data Space: Improves access to biodiversity-sensitive data for sustainable forest management and climate-adaptive decisions.
  2. Pollinator Monitoring Data Space: Uses monitoring tools to support agricultural transformation that benefits pollinators.
  3. Soil Circularity Data Space: Enhances soil resource reuse, reducing emissions and promoting circular practices in construction.
  4. CO₂ Hub & Building Twins: Focuses on monitoring Scope 3 emissions in real estate, aligning with CSRD and ESG frameworks.
  5. Circular Textile Data Space: Facilitates use of Digital Product Passports to support traceability and circular business models.
  6. Zero-Defect Manufacturing & GEISAT Precursor: Applies data methodologies for satellite manufacturing and emissions detection.
  7. Climate Investment Data Space: Integrates with Viable Cities to support urban climate investment planning.
  8. DESTINE Environmental Hazards Data Space: Enables health risk analysis by integrating data related to environmental hazards.
  9. NECST Assessment Tool: Provides environmental impact modelling for corporate decision-makers.
  10. EIRENE – Air Quality and Health Data Space: Advances analysis of environmental exposures on health through high-resolution data.

Data for the Circular Economy

The GDDS acts as a digital exchange where all participants can share harmonised data throughout the supply chain—from extraction to recycling. Importing companies can access data to meet sustainability commitments, recyclers can secure material supplies, and consumers can find information on product repairs.

A network is being developed to integrate the GDDS with the Digital Product Passport, enhancing transparency in the circular supply chain and informing policymaking with real-time data.

The Inspire Directive

The INSPIRE Directive was evaluated (2022) and will be amended with the aim to simplify and align sharing of spatial data with more recent horizontal data legislation (Open Data Directive, Implementing Regulation on high-value datasets, Data Governance Act). The revision of the INSPIRE Directive is tentatively scheduled for adoption in Q4 2025.  

A stakeholders’ consultation was recently conducted and a supporting study is ongoing. In a second phase (2026-2027), the Green Data for All initiative will also explore possible actions to promote and facilitate the reuse of environmental data for policy making and the European market for data in general, through non-legislative and community-driven measures.

For more information see  JRC Publications Repository - Unlocking Green Deal Data: Innovative Approaches for Data Governance and Sharing in Europe.