Sustainable Development

"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for people and planet"  (United Nations Development Programme, n.d.).

Sources

United Nations Development Programme. n.d. "Transforming Our World". Accessed 2 Novermber 2023. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/gh/SDGs-Bo…

Related Content

Article

Interview with Mr Stuart Crane, Programme Management Officer at UN Environment

Interview with Mr Stuart Crane, Programme Management Officer at UN Environment

Photo of Stuart Crane
Mr Stuart Crane, has been program coordinator at the United Nations Environment Program and its Center for Water and Environment since 2017. Mr Crane has experience in international intergovernmental organizations since 2009 and dedicated large parts of his career to working on environmental issues such as energy, climate change and water. His professional background is in Environmental Quality and resource management, and he received his post graduate degree in International Development. On behalf of UNEP, he coordinates a global SDG 6 fresh water program that supports 193 countries with progressing towards SDG. 6 targets on improving the water governance, ecosystem management and reducing freshwater pollution.
Read More

Interview with Nivin Hasan, Technical Advisor-Researcher, Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre

Interview with Nivin Hasan, Technical Advisor-Researcher, Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre

Photo of Nivin Hasan with her team in the field
Dr. Nivin Hasan discusses her pioneering work in space technology and water resource management, emphasising the role of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in addressing climate challenges in Jordan and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. She highlights her research on drought assessment in the Amman-Zarqa Basin using satellite data and machine learning, underscoring the need for innovative solutions in arid zones. As a Technical Advisor at Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre (RJGC), she oversees projects integrating geospatial analysis for sustainable groundwater management and disaster resilience. Her proudest achievements include leading Jordan’s first CANSAT project and receiving global recognition for empowering women in STEM. She identifies water scarcity, climate variability, and data gaps as critical challenges in arid regions and advocates for space-based monitoring systems to enhance mitigation strategies. Dr. Hasan encourages young women to pursue space science, stressing mentorship and perseverance. She calls for interdisciplinary collaboration and funding to drive innovation in environmental monitoring. When asked about her favourite aggregate state of water, she humorously notes its irrelevance to her research but acknowledges the symbolic importance of liquid water for life in arid landscapes.
Read More

Wetlands conservation: How satellite observation supports sustainable wetland management

Conservación de humedales: cómo la observación por satélite apoya la gestión sostenible de los humedales

Interview with Sarhan Zerouali

Interview with Sarhan Zerouali

Sarhan Zerouali
Sarhan Zerouali became fascinated with water at a young age through learning about water scarcity around the world and about traditional methods for locating groundwater. In a space applications course Sahran then learnt about space-based technologies. He is currently working on a research project on how remote sensing and other technologies can help alleviate global challenges arising from land degradation. As an aerospace engineer, Sahran has worked with various modern technologies in his work including nanosatellites, artificial intelligence, and feature extraction algorithms.
Read More

Interview with Padmi Ranasinghe, Doctoral student in Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of Texas (UT) - Arlington

Interview with Padmi Ranasinghe, Doctoral student in Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of Texas (UT) - Arlington

Padmi Ranasinghe doing field work at Sinharaja Evergreen rain forest
Padmi is currently reading for her Ph.D. focusing on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate change risk reduction and resilience cities. She believes NbS can reduce hydro-meteorological hazards such as floods, droughts, and landslides in the long run. It is a strategy to minimize the gaps in decarbonizing and reducing greenhouse gases and a path to Net-zero cities. NbS, are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, benefiting people and nature (IUCN & World Bank, 2022). Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), ecosystem-based mitigation (EbM), and green infrastructure are some branches under the umbrella of NbS. NbS include conserving forests, mangroves, and wetland ecosystems, halting deforestation, increasing reforestation, climate-smart agriculture, and opening green spaces. According to her, space technology is integral to planning, monitoring, and analysis. Space technology today is so advanced that it can capture and predict changes in the water cycle, climate change variables and so forth. Remote sensing data and satellite-derived information are essential in obtaining accurate data on a specific site anywhere on the Earth's surface. Most recently, she has been involved in projects utilizing urban NbS such as the conservation of Ramsar-Colombo to mitigate urban floods and adapt to climate change. To conduct wetland inventories, space-based data and GIS techniques can be utilized to detect the presence of wetlands and/or water in wetlands. Though there can be some challenges encountered such as limited coverage of specific areas within the wetland, clouds often hiding images, and the low resolution of data making it difficult to differentiate floral species. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) can provide enhanced accuracy and consistency in measuring wetlands, as well as the presence of water in wetlands, using space technologies. Data and technologies from space contribute to watershed management, sediment measurements and many other environmental aspects.
Read More

Interview with Mr Stuart Crane, Programme Management Officer at UN Environment

Interview with Mr Stuart Crane, Programme Management Officer at UN Environment

Photo of Stuart Crane
Mr Stuart Crane, has been program coordinator at the United Nations Environment Program and its Center for Water and Environment since 2017. Mr Crane has experience in international intergovernmental organizations since 2009 and dedicated large parts of his career to working on environmental issues such as energy, climate change and water. His professional background is in Environmental Quality and resource management, and he received his post graduate degree in International Development. On behalf of UNEP, he coordinates a global SDG 6 fresh water program that supports 193 countries with progressing towards SDG. 6 targets on improving the water governance, ecosystem management and reducing freshwater pollution.
Read More

Interview with Nivin Hasan, Technical Advisor-Researcher, Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre

Interview with Nivin Hasan, Technical Advisor-Researcher, Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre

Photo of Nivin Hasan with her team in the field
Dr. Nivin Hasan discusses her pioneering work in space technology and water resource management, emphasising the role of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in addressing climate challenges in Jordan and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. She highlights her research on drought assessment in the Amman-Zarqa Basin using satellite data and machine learning, underscoring the need for innovative solutions in arid zones. As a Technical Advisor at Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre (RJGC), she oversees projects integrating geospatial analysis for sustainable groundwater management and disaster resilience. Her proudest achievements include leading Jordan’s first CANSAT project and receiving global recognition for empowering women in STEM. She identifies water scarcity, climate variability, and data gaps as critical challenges in arid regions and advocates for space-based monitoring systems to enhance mitigation strategies. Dr. Hasan encourages young women to pursue space science, stressing mentorship and perseverance. She calls for interdisciplinary collaboration and funding to drive innovation in environmental monitoring. When asked about her favourite aggregate state of water, she humorously notes its irrelevance to her research but acknowledges the symbolic importance of liquid water for life in arid landscapes.
Read More

GEO SDG Awards Program

GEO SDG Awards Program

Call banner

Call for Nominations for the GEO SDG Awards

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a universal set of priorities to use as a blueprint of action for people, the planet, and prosperity. Earth observations, geospatial data, and the information they provide play insightful roles in monitoring targets, tracking progress, as well as helping nations and stakeholders make informed decisions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Read More

Interview with Sarhan Zerouali

Interview with Sarhan Zerouali

Sarhan Zerouali
Sarhan Zerouali became fascinated with water at a young age through learning about water scarcity around the world and about traditional methods for locating groundwater. In a space applications course Sahran then learnt about space-based technologies. He is currently working on a research project on how remote sensing and other technologies can help alleviate global challenges arising from land degradation. As an aerospace engineer, Sahran has worked with various modern technologies in his work including nanosatellites, artificial intelligence, and feature extraction algorithms.
Read More

Interview with Padmi Ranasinghe, Doctoral student in Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of Texas (UT) - Arlington

Interview with Padmi Ranasinghe, Doctoral student in Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of Texas (UT) - Arlington

Padmi Ranasinghe doing field work at Sinharaja Evergreen rain forest
Padmi is currently reading for her Ph.D. focusing on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate change risk reduction and resilience cities. She believes NbS can reduce hydro-meteorological hazards such as floods, droughts, and landslides in the long run. It is a strategy to minimize the gaps in decarbonizing and reducing greenhouse gases and a path to Net-zero cities. NbS, are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, benefiting people and nature (IUCN & World Bank, 2022). Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), ecosystem-based mitigation (EbM), and green infrastructure are some branches under the umbrella of NbS. NbS include conserving forests, mangroves, and wetland ecosystems, halting deforestation, increasing reforestation, climate-smart agriculture, and opening green spaces. According to her, space technology is integral to planning, monitoring, and analysis. Space technology today is so advanced that it can capture and predict changes in the water cycle, climate change variables and so forth. Remote sensing data and satellite-derived information are essential in obtaining accurate data on a specific site anywhere on the Earth's surface. Most recently, she has been involved in projects utilizing urban NbS such as the conservation of Ramsar-Colombo to mitigate urban floods and adapt to climate change. To conduct wetland inventories, space-based data and GIS techniques can be utilized to detect the presence of wetlands and/or water in wetlands. Though there can be some challenges encountered such as limited coverage of specific areas within the wetland, clouds often hiding images, and the low resolution of data making it difficult to differentiate floral species. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) can provide enhanced accuracy and consistency in measuring wetlands, as well as the presence of water in wetlands, using space technologies. Data and technologies from space contribute to watershed management, sediment measurements and many other environmental aspects.
Read More

Stakeholder

Omanos Analytics

Omanos Analytics

OMANOS Analytics Logo

We founded Omanos with the mission of using space data analysis to empower communities around the world, and to bring the benefits of satellite data insights to a wider audience. Much of our work has used satellite data analysis to reveal the social and environmental impacts of, e.g., mining, agriculture, and the hydrocarbon industry across four continents for range of clients – international NGOs, governments, supra-national bodies including the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency.

Read More

GLOBHE

GLOBHE

Logo of GLOBHE

Drone data collection has never been easier. From anywhere. Globhe is the global platform for drone data, with more than 7600 local drone operators in 132 countries. We are fortunate to have an LTA with the United Nations and support many different UN agencies' operations throughout the world, working on water risks reduction, drone mapping, disaster management, and search and rescue, among other topics.

Globhe offers earth observation data by drones in an industry-wide revolutionizing business model, offered either by subscription or on-demand for proof of concept purposes.

Read More

American University of Central Asia

American University of Central Asia

Founded in 1993, AUCA develops future leaders for the democratic transformation of Central Asia. American University of Central Asia is an international, multi-disciplinary learning community in the American liberal arts tradition. AUCA is the first university in Central Asia to offer US accredited degrees in liberal arts programs through a partnership with Bard College in the United States. In addition to Bard, AUCA maintains partnerships with a number of universities and organizations worldwide.

Read More

International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals

International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals

CBAS Logo

With the aim of addressing global challenges in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, CBAS is committed to harnessing big data to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing technological barriers and filling in data gaps. Since its inauguration, CBAS identified key areas of interest and has made significant progress. 

Read More

Smart Sensing for Climate and Development, GIS Centre, University of the Punjab Centre for Geographical Information, University of the Punjab

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

United Nations World Food Programme

United Nations World Food Programme

Logo of United Nations World Food Programme

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

Read More

UK Space Agency - International Partnership Programme

UK Space Agency - International Partnership Programme

The UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme (IPP) is an award-winning >£150 million space for sustainable development initiative which utilises the UK space sector’s capabilities in satellite technology and data services to deliver measurable and sustainable economic, societal and/or environmental benefits in partnership with developing countries.

Read More

Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Kenya

Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Kenya

Logo of DRSRS
The Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) is a key government agency in Kenya, established in 1977 under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, but now under the Executive Office of the President. DRSRS is renowned for its work in mapping and monitoring natural resources and environmental changes through advanced remote sensing and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technologies.
Read More

Person

Joshi

Rajhi

Engdaw

Ayanga

Photo of Jotham Ayanga

Jotham Ayanga

Natural Resource Scientist Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Kenya

Jotham's contributions are instrumental in the mission of the Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, Kenya to leverage advanced technologies for environmental monitoring and sustainable resource management, directly supporting Kenya’s efforts to protect its natural resources in the face of climate change and development pressures. My work not only enhances national environmental policies but also contributes to regional conservation initiatives, making a lasting impact on the landscape and community well-being.

Ranasinghe

Bruscolini

Ritchie

Space-based Solution

Groundwater resource management using artificial intelligence and remote sensing technologies - in development