scholarly journals Seeing Sustainability from Space: Using Earth Observation Data to Populate the UN Sustainable Development Goal Indicators

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 5062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Andries ◽  
Stephen Morse ◽  
Richard Murphy ◽  
Jim Lynch ◽  
Emma Woolliams
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Development Economic ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Earth Observation Data

In 2015, member countries of the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Sustainable Development Summit in New York. These global goals have 169 targets and 232 indicators based on the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. However, substantial challenges remain in obtaining data of the required quality and quantity to populate these indicators efficiently. One promising and innovative way of addressing this issue is to use Earth observation (EO). The research reported here updates our original work to develop a Maturity Matrix Framework (MMF) for assessing the suitability of EO-derived data for populating the SDG indicators, with a special focus on those indicators covering the more social and economic dimensions of sustainable development, as these have been under-explored in terms of the contribution that can be made by EO. The advanced MMF 2.0 framework set out in this paper is based on a wide consultation with EO and indicator experts (semi-structured interviews with 38 respondents). This paper provides detail of the evolved structure of MMF 2.0 and illustrates its use for one of the SDG indicators (Indicator 11.1.1). The revised MMF is then applied to published work covering the full suite of SDG indicators and demonstrates that EO can make an important contribution to providing data relevant to a substantial number of the SDG indicators.

scholarly journals Monitoring sustainable development by means of earth observation data and machine learning: a review

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Ferreira ◽  
Muriel Iten ◽  
Rui G. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Learning Techniques ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Earth Observation Data

Abstract This paper presents and explores the different Earth Observation approaches and their contribution to the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A review on the Sustainable Development concept and its goals is presented followed by Earth Observation approaches relevant to this field, giving special attention to the contribution of Machine Learning methods and algorithms as well as their potential and capabilities to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. Overall, it is observed that Earth Observation plays a key role in monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals given its cost-effectiveness pertaining to data acquisition on all scales and information richness. Despite the success of Machine Learning upon Earth Observation data analysis, it is observed that performance is heavily dependent on the ability to extract and synthesise characteristics from data. Hence, a deeper and effective analysis of the available data is required to identify the strongest features and, hence, the key factors pertaining to Sustainable Development. Overall, this research provides a deeper understanding on the relation between Sustainable Development, Earth Observation and Machine Learning, and how these can support the Sustainable Development of countries and the means to find their correlations. In pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals, given the relevance and growing amount of data generated through Earth Observation, it is concluded that there is an increased need for new methods and techniques strongly suggesting the use of new Machine Learning techniques.

scholarly journals A Review of the Sustainability Concept and the State of SDG Monitoring Using Remote Sensing

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Estoque
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainability Concept ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Earth Observation Data

The formulation of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) was a major leap forward in humankind’s quest for a sustainable future, which likely began in the 17th century, when declining forest resources in Europe led to proposals for the re-establishment and conservation of forests, a strategy that embodies the great idea that the current generation bears responsibility for future generations. Global progress toward SDG fulfillment is monitored by 231 unique social-ecological indicators spread across 169 targets, and remote sensing (RS) provides Earth observation data, directly or indirectly, for 30 (18%) of these indicators. Unfortunately, the UN Global Sustainable Development Report 2019—The Future is Now: Science for Achieving Sustainable Development concluded that, despite initial efforts, the world is not yet on track for achieving most of the SDG targets. Meanwhile, through the EO4SDG initiative by the Group on Earth Observations, the full potential of RS for SDG monitoring is now being explored at a global scale. As of April 2020, preliminary statistical data were available for 21 (70%) of the 30 RS-based SDG indicators, according to the Global SDG Indicators Database. Ten (33%) of the RS-based SDG indicators have also been included in the SDG Index and Dashboards found in the Sustainable Development Report 2019—Transformations to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. These statistics, however, do not necessarily reflect the actual status and availability of raw and processed geospatial data for the RS-based indicators, which remains an important issue. Nevertheless, various initiatives have been started to address the need for open access data. RS data can also help in the development of other potentially relevant complementary indicators or sub-indicators. By doing so, they can help meet one of the current challenges of SDG monitoring, which is how best to operationalize the SDG indicators.

scholarly journals Earth Observation for Sustainable Infrastructure: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1528
Author(s):  
Yongze Song ◽  
Peng Wu
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Sustainable Infrastructure ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Earth Observation Data

Infrastructure is a fundamental sector for sustainable development and Earth observation has great potentials for sustainable infrastructure development (SID). However, implementations of the timely, large–scale and multi–source Earth observation are still limited in satisfying the huge global requirements of SID. This study presents a systematical literature review to identify trends of Earth observation for sustainable infrastructure (EOSI), investigate the relationship between EOSI and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and explore challenges and future directions of EOSI. Results reveal the close associations of infrastructure, urban development, ecosystems, climate, Earth observation and GIS in EOSI, and indicate their relationships. In addition, from the perspective of EOSI–SDGs relationship, the huge potentials of EOSI are demonstrated from the 70% of the infrastructure influenced targets that can be directly or indirectly derived from Earth observation data, but have not been included in current SDG indicators. Finally, typical EOSI cases are presented to indicate challenges and future research directions. This review emphasizes the contributions and potentials of Earth observation to SID and EOSI is a powerful pathway to deliver on SDGs.

scholarly journals EARTH OBSERVATION TO SUBSTANTIATE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 11: PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND EXPERIENCES FROM AUSTRIA

2020 ◽  
Vol XLIII-B4-2020 ◽  
pp. 769-774
Author(s):  
T. Blaschke ◽  
A. Kovács-Győri
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Spatial Accessibility ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Average Share ◽  
Earth Observation Data

Abstract. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is widely appreciated and increasingly known by a wider public. However, less obvious are the enormous coordination and harmonization efforts to reify these goals into 169 targets and 232 indicators. We exemplarily outline a tangible pathway to address SDG11 and one associated indicator 11.7.1 “Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities”. We highlight some specific problems for reporting on indicators related to urban green spaces (UGS) and make suggestions for this indicator by illustrating the potential of Earth Observation data and spatial accessibility analysis.

scholarly journals An Eco-GAME Meta-Evaluation of Existing Methods for the Appreciation of Ecosystem Services

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7805
Author(s):  
Maurizio Sajeva ◽  
Marjo Maidell ◽  
Jonne Kotta ◽  
Anneliis Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Science Policy ◽  
Dimensional System ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The One

The isolation of science disciplines and the weak integration between science, policy and society represent main challenges for sustainable human development. If, on the one hand, the specialization of science has produced higher levels of knowledge, on the other hand, the whole picture of the complex interactions between systems has suffered. Economic and natural sciences are, on matters of sustainable development, strongly divergent, and the interface informing decision-making is weak. This downplays uncertainty and creates room for entrenched political positions, compromising evidence-based decision-making and putting the urgent need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030 at risk. This article presents the heterodox Eco-GAME framework for interconnecting science through trans-disciplinary social-learning and meta-evaluation of scientific knowledge in pursuit of SDGs. The framework is tested and refined in the BONUS MARES project by systematic literature analysis, participatory workshops, and semi-structured interviews, in relation to the specific habitats of Baltic Sea mussel reefs, seagrass beds and macroalgae ecosystem services produced and methods applied. The results, acknowledging the urgency of interfacing science, policy and society, validate the Eco-GAME as a framework for this purpose and present a multi-dimensional system of indicators as a further development.

Gender and the Sustainable Development Goals

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Mee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Development Economic ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The World ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Women And Girls

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) began in 2016 with great hopes that they will promote social development, economic development, and environmentally sustainable development with the motto, “Leave No One Behind” (UN 2016). In particular, SDGs’ goal 5, “Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls” (UN 2016). However, persistently high gender gap was found in many countries around the world whether they are developed or developing. The 2016 Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), which examines gender inequality across four key areas of health, education, economy and politics, showed that the gender gap widened in many countries, and the gap in “economic participation and opportunity” showed the largest gender gap compared to health, education and political participation (World Economic Forum 2016). Interestingly, the GGGI do not match the global ranking of countries based on their GDP size, GDP per capita, or even the level of poverty. Thus, in order to deal with the underlying causes of deep-rooted and persistent gender inequality we must develop more culturally nuanced and contextualized approaches in the SDGs to tackle gender inequality (Song & Kim 2013). Gender inequality is simply not acceptable in the world where half of the world’s citizens are not provided with the same rights as the other half. It is also economically less productive to rely on only half of the world’s labor force to help eradicate poverty. Education, employment, and full empowerment of women and girls must be a priority for the SDGs.

Addis agenda lays down funding task for multilaterals

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Multilateral Development Banks ◽  
Financial Flows ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Illicit Financial Flows

Subject Financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Significance After a year of intensive negotiations, on July 16 the third UN conference for Financing for Development (FFD) culminated in 193 countries signing the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. The document sets out broad principles on how to mobilise finance in sufficient quantities to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will be agreed in September in New York. The negotiations generated consensus around new norms on tax cooperation and illicit financial flows (IFFs), but also set ambitious expectations for multilateral development banks (MDBs). Impacts Addis begins a key year for development finance, culminating in December's Conference of the Parties (COP21) on climate change in Paris. The goal of COP21 is to draft the first universal climate agreement, which should take effect by 2020 at the latest. However, COP21 must also aim to map out a credible path towards mobilising 100 billion dollars per year in climate finance.

scholarly journals Implementing the SDG-13 through the Adoption of Hybrid Law: Addressing Climate-Induced Displacement

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-100
Author(s):  
Stellina Jolly ◽  
Abhishek Trivedi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
International Law ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Environmental Concerns ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals

The sustainable development goals (sdgs) with their integrated linkage of development and environmental concerns have been hailed as a paradigm shift in the attainment of sustainability. The article attempts to understand the normative framework that underwrites international law and sdg-13 vis-a-vis climate change with a special focus on climate-induced displacement. It explores the existing provisions, limitations, and gaps under international law with regard to displacement associated with climate change. More specifically, the analysis assesses the potential of hybrid law in promoting the goals of sdg-13. The hybrid law approach proposed in this article involves the amalgamation of substantive norms from different branches of international law, integration of norms of differing legal status and engagement of state and non-state actors. The analysis explores the concept of hybrid law, surveys the Nansen Protection Agenda and the Global Compact on Migration and analyses their suitability in exploring solutions to climate displacement. The article evaluates how the adoption of the sdgs provides a foundation for the development of a hybrid law in examining solutions to climate displacement under sdg-13.

scholarly journals Translation of Earth observation data into sustainable development indicators: An analytical framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Andries ◽  
Stephen Morse ◽  
Richard Murphy ◽  
Jim Lynch ◽  
Emma Woolliams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Sustainable Development Indicators ◽  
Earth Observation Data
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