Distinguished Delegates and Observers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to join you at the opening of this important side event ‘Geospatial Information: Accelerating Implementation of the SDGs’.
This year marks the mid-point for achieving the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. But the world is falling short of meeting most of the goals. Moreover, despite some improvements since 2015, the availability and accessibility of quality, timely and reliable data for decision-making remains a challenge. Tomorrow, SDG Summit will launch a new phase of accelerated action to deliver the ambitions of the SDGs. Geospatial information will play a vital role in filling many of the existing data gaps.
For those who may not be so aware, geospatial information is data that is referenced to a location or place. It provides the digital connection between people, their location, their activities, and their environment. Geospatial information now underpins everything we do. All countries and all sectors need geospatial information to drive the type of decision making needed to address national priorities, and forge national development.
This event today will demonstrate how geospatial information and related technologies contribute to the development agendas and priorities of the United Nations. This includes how the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) is accelerating implementation of the SDGs through its global programme of work.
You will hear from the ‘geospatial voices of Africa’ a shared vision of how geospatial information assists in bridging the geospatial digital divide, supports achievement of a nation's development priorities, secures socio-economic prosperity and accelerates implementation of the SDGs.
Through the use of UN-GGIM’s global geospatial frameworks, and initiatives like the SDG Data Alliance, you will also hear how SDG capacity-building and implementation is being achieved with geospatial information in developing countries.
In this connection, the role of the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence in Bonn, Germany and the Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre in Deqing, China will be showcased. Those two newly established centres, will contribute to the strengthening and enhancing of geospatial capacities in Member States, especially in developing countries.
Finally, you will be provided with information on the Seventh UN-GGIM High Level Forum in Mexico City in October 2024, with the theme of ‘Accelerating Implementation: Achieving Resilience’.
I look forward to your valuable contributions and thank you for your participation as we continue to ensure that geospatial information accelerates the implementation of the SDGs for all countries.
Thank you for your attention.