 GEDI produces high resolution laser ranging observations of the 3D structure of the forests Earth, which will provide answers to how deforestation has contributed to atmospheric CO2 concentrations, how much carbon forests will absorb in the future, and how habitat degradation will affect global biodiversity and the water cycle.This in turn, is also of value for weather forecasting, forest management, glacier and snowpack monitoring.Overall, GEDI will help to better understand how the Earth behaves as a living system.