X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy generally require high-vacuum conditions. The state-of-the-art approach to increase the base pressure up to ambient condition relies on unique and expensive apparatus sophisticated differentially pumped electron lenses. We develop a simple environmental cell with graphene oxide windows that are transparent to low-energy electrons and demonstrate the feasibility of XPS measurements on model samples such aqueous salt solution placed on the back side of a window. These proof-of-principle results show the potential of using graphene oxide, graphene and other emerging ultrathin membrane windows.