Arctic communities were among the first to experience significant impacts from climate change. In 2009, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) established the Center for Climate and Health to help describe connections between climate change, environmental impacts and health effects. In 2012 with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), LEO Network was launched as a tool to help the tribal health system and local observers share information about environmental change.

In 2015 ANTHC and Resource Data Inc. (RDI) developed LEO App to increase access and improve data management and analytical features of the Network. In the same year, LEO Network was selected as a model program under the United States Chairmanship of the Arctic Council to help raise awareness and improve communication about climate change in the circumpolar region. Today LEO Network is continuing to evolve and to build new partnerships with local observers across the Arctic and around the world.