Conflict and Environment Observatory
CEOBS is a UK-registered charitable non-profit that monitors and reports on the environmental dimensions of armed conflict and military activities, serving policymakers, mine action organizations, academia, and civil society across at least nine conflict-affected countries through its WISEN database, citizen science tools, and policy advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNot specified, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Conflict and Environment Observatory does
Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) is a UK-registered charitable non-profit founded in 2017 and based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, that monitors and communicates the environmental dimensions of armed conflict and military activities. The organization produces research, reports, briefings, and evidence-based advocacy targeting policymakers, mine action organizations, academia, and civil society, with active monitoring across at least nine conflict-affected countries including Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Libya, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen. Its core technical portfolio comprises the WISEN database for systematic mapping of conflict-linked environmental harm, the WISEN WATCH citizen science tool for remote damage assessment, and the Green Field Tool co-developed with Norwegian People's Aid for environmental screening in mine action field operations.
CEOBS' technology stack is built on remote sensing, satellite imagery analysis, and open-source data collection, with the Ukraine Incident Database providing interactive mapping of environmentally-relevant incidents since February 2022. The organization operates as a thought leader on military emissions reporting, publishing findings that militaries may account for approximately 5.5% of global emissions and identifying an 82% gap in EU military emissions reporting. It contributes to international policy forums including COPs, UNEA, Mine Ban Treaty meetings, and provides evidence to parliamentary hearings.
Revenue is generated through three streams: grants and donations from charitable foundations, governments, and individuals; specialist training and consultancy services to mine action organizations on environmental compliance (notably IMAS 07.13); and public donations via the website. The organization is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees and operates with a small team of approximately 12 employees, maintaining an extensive output of over 100 publications distributed free of charge through its website.
Conflict and Environment Observatory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Conflict and Environment Observatory
- Legal name
- The Conflict and Environment Observatory
- Website
- https://ceobs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CEOBS is a UK-registered charitable non-profit that monitors and reports on the environmental dimensions of armed conflict and military activities, serving policymakers, mine action organizations, academia, and civil society across at least nine conflict-affected countries through its WISEN database, citizen science tools, and policy advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Conflict and Environment Observatory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Research and Conflict Monitoring
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM), Enterprise Carbon Accounting & GHG Inventory Platforms (EUABAEAA)
Keywords
Where Conflict and Environment Observatory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Not specified
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Conflict and Environment Observatory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grants and Donations: Funding from charitable foundations, governments, and individual donors supporting research and advocacy activities
- Consultancy Services: Specialist training and consultancy provided to mine action organizations to help them meet environmental standards such as IMAS 07.13
- Donations: Public donations through website to support ongoing work
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Conflict and Environment Observatory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CEOBS is a research and advocacy charity that systematically documents and analyzes environmental damage from armed conflicts and military activities. It produces databases (WISEN), citizen science tools (WISEN WATCH), mine action assessment tools (Green Field Tool), policy reports, and specialist consultancy/training services for humanitarian demining organizations, governments, and intergovernmental bodies.
Product overview
CEOBS operates a portfolio of monitoring tools and databases focused on tracking environmental damage from armed conflicts. The core offerings include the WISEN (Wartime IncidentS to ENvironment) database - a systematic tool for documenting conflict-linked environmental harm - and its companion citizen science tool WISEN WATCH. Additional products include the Green Field Tool (developed with Norwegian People's Aid) for environmental assessment in mine action operations, and the Ukraine Incident Database with interactive mapping. These tools support advocacy, assessment, recovery planning and accountability efforts globally, with particular focus on Ukraine, Sudan, Iran, and mine-affected countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WISEN (Wartime IncidentS to ENvironment Database): A systematic database for identifying and mapping conflict-linked environmental harm.
- WISEN WATCH
- Green Field Tool
- CEAN (Conflict and Environment Academic Network)
Products and services
- WISEN (Wartime IncidentS to ENvironment Database) A systematic database tool for identifying and mapping conflict-linked environmental harm. Designed to improve accountability at local, national and international levels by systematically documenting wartime environmental damage, for use by policymakers, researchers, and advocacy organizations.
- WISEN WATCH A citizen science tool that enables anyone to remotely track and assess wartime environmental damage, supporting broader environmental monitoring efforts in conflict-affected areas. Part of the GROMADA project.
- Green Field Tool An environmental screening and assessment tool co-developed with Norwegian People's Aid, designed to support the planning and implementation of mine action field operations while minimizing environmental footprint. Used by humanitarian demining organizations.
- Ukraine Incident Database An interactive map and database of environmentally-relevant incidents in Ukraine since February 2022, providing remote tracking and assessment of environmental harm for stakeholders, research, and advocacy.
- IMAS 07.13 Training and Consultancy Services Specialist training and consultancy services to help mine action organizations meet the requirements of IMAS 07.13 on Environmental Management and Climate Change, offered directly to mine action organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Militaries may be responsible for 5.5% of global emissions - a proportion so great that it can no longer be ignored
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Conflict and Environment Observatory
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Conflict and Environment Observatory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Conflict and Environment Observatory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Norwegian People's Aid (NPA)coreLong-term collaboration on mine action environmental mainstreaming. Jointly developed the Green Field Tool for environmental assessment in mine action. Conducted joint research on explosive weapons environmental impacts in Ukraine, including soil pollution assessments in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.
- Zoï Environment NetworkcoreProduced joint environmental briefings on Ukraine covering nature, water, climate crisis, coastal/marine environment, fossil fuel infrastructure, and industry. Collaborated on mapping Ukraine's ecologically important areas.
- Environmental Peacebuilding AssociationcoreJoint recipient of Al-Moumin Award. Collaboration on environmental peacebuilding initiatives, conferences, and community surveys on funding realities for environmental peacebuilding.
- AirwarsminorCollaboration on exploring immediate and reverberating consequences of explosive weapons use, specifically in Gaza during May 2021 conflict.
- Ukrainian ArchiveminorJoint open source investigation into attacks on Kremenchuk Oil Refinery, focusing on air pollution and applicable legal framework.
- Decentralized Damage Mapping GroupcoreMulti-organizational collective focused on conflict monitoring through remote sensing and satellite imagery analysis. Awarded ESA Earth Observation Excellence Award 2025.
- GROMADA Project ConsortiumcoreErasmus+ funded consortium exploring participatory environmental research in Ukraine for environmental protection, legal accountability and community engagement. Includes citizen science water quality hackathons and online workshops.
- European Citizen Science Association (ECSA)minorCo-launched working group on citizen science in areas affected by armed conflicts, with first in-person event at ECSA 2026 conference in Finland.
- Scientists for Global ResponsibilityminorJoint study providing updated estimates for global and regional military GHG emissions, finding total military carbon footprint is approximately 5.5% of global emissions.
- PAX (Netherlands)minorJoint recipient of Al-Moumin Award. Collaboration on Syria deforestation study and joint commentary on environmental defenders.
- UNEPcoreCommissioned by UNEP to provide rapid environmental assessment of Kakhovka Dam breach. Collaboration on UNEA resolutions and environmental assistance in conflict-affected areas.
- Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)minorCollaboration on podcast series 'Greening Defence' examining UK Ministry of Defence environmental footprint reduction efforts.
- Harvard Law SchoolminorJoint report on principles for environmental remediation of nuclear weapons contamination as part of Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
- Ukrainian Nature Conservation GroupminorCollaboration to build most comprehensive digital map of Ukraine's ecologically important areas for nature.
- Concrete ImpactsminorCo-hosted COP26 media launch of militaryemissions.org website tracking state of military emissions reporting.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Conflict and Environment Observatory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Bellingcat: Pioneer in open-source investigations of conflict events. Adjacent rather than direct, but uses overlapping remote sensing and open-source methodology to document conflict harm.
- Insecurity Insight: Monitoring NGO producing data on attacks on health care and aid workers. Comparable in being a small NGO focused on systematic documentation of humanitarian and conflict-related harm for advocacy and accountability.
Broad incumbents
- HALO Trust: Largest humanitarian demining organization, an explicit user of CEOBS's Green Field Tool. Comparable end-customer for mine action environmental compliance services, though much larger and broader in mission.
- Norwegian People's Aid: Large humanitarian and demining organization that co-developed CEOBS's Green Field Tool. A bigger, broader humanitarian player with overlapping mine action environmental mainstreaming work.
- Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD): Sets and supports IMAS standards including IMAS 07.13 on environmental management. A broader incumbent whose policy and standards work directly influences and constrains CEOBS's mine action consultancy market.
Direct peers
- PAX (Netherlands): Dutch peace NGO running the Environment, Peace and Security Project. Joint recipient of the Al-Moumin Award with CEOBS and co-author of Syria deforestation and conflict-environment reporting — directly comparable in niche, methodology and policy engagement.
- Zoï Environment Network: Environmental reporting and mapping organization producing briefings on Ukraine's nature, water and fossil fuel impacts. Long-standing CEOBS collaborator with overlapping output on conflict-environment intersections.
- Scientists for Global Responsibility: UK-based network producing the joint updated military GHG emissions estimate (~5.5% of global emissions). Directly comparable to CEOBS in the military emissions and militarism research niche.
- Environmental Peacebuilding Association: Global network of researchers and practitioners on environment and peacebuilding. Joint award sponsor with CEOBS and a comparable convening and knowledge platform for the same niche.
- Airwars: Open-source civilian casualty monitoring organization that has collaborated with CEOBS on explosive weapons impact in Gaza. Comparable in using open-source methods to document civilian harm from military action.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Conflict and Environment Observatory social profiles
Digital presenceConflict and Environment Observatory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Conflict and Environment Observatory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Conflict and Environment Observatory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Conflict and Environment Observatory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Conflict and Environment Observatory
What does Conflict and Environment Observatory do?
CEOBS is a research and advocacy charity that systematically documents and analyzes environmental damage from armed conflicts and military activities. It produces databases (WISEN), citizen science tools (WISEN WATCH), mine action assessment tools (Green Field Tool), policy reports, and specialist consultancy/training services for humanitarian demining organizations, governments, and intergovernmental bodies.
Is Conflict and Environment Observatory a public or private company?
Conflict and Environment Observatory is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Conflict and Environment Observatory founded?
Conflict and Environment Observatory was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Conflict and Environment Observatory based?
Conflict and Environment Observatory is headquartered in Not specified, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Conflict and Environment Observatory make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grants and Donations are the primary driver. The others are consultancy Services and donations.
Who are Conflict and Environment Observatory's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Bellingcat and Insecurity Insight. Broad incumbents are HALO Trust, Norwegian People's Aid and Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). Direct peers are PAX (Netherlands), Zoï Environment Network, Scientists for Global Responsibility, Environmental Peacebuilding Association and Airwars.
Does Conflict and Environment Observatory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Conflict and Environment Observatory.
What industry is Conflict and Environment Observatory in?
Conflict and Environment Observatory's product category is Environmental Research and Conflict Monitoring. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAJAC, GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3), with a secondary code of EUAHAJAM, Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital). Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 8731.