With limited resources on our platter, it becomes an obligation for each and everyone of us to be cautious about utilizing the same. While saving the natural resources is a moral obligation, what would really do the trick is giving back. To enable the future generations to have a healthy life, we all need to work towards creating a sustainable society right from this moment.
Digital technologies give us an opportunity to develop more intelligent and inclusive urban systems where waste, costs, and ecological impacts are minimized, and where urban operations and processes, increasingly cognizant of the multiple stakeholders involved, can enhance quality of life for all. These technologies give us an opportunity to drive success on several other SDGs, demonstrating the significant impact that ICTs can have on the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
But the transition towards smart, sustainable cities requires collective intention and increased collaboration between citizens, businesses, and governments. Together, we can design more efficient, ecological and people-centered cities, which drive, rather than hinder, individual well-being and sustainable development.
Sustainable Development Goals and UNWGIC
The United Nations announced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015 — an ambitious, integrated, indivisible and transformational global agenda to reach the ‘furthest behind first’. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, 169 associated targets with 230 indicators, promise to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced way.
The use of geospatial information and technology is viewed as an enabling and coherent capability for achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Geospatial data, when combined with other statistical data, enables nations to create visualization tools that help inaccurate assessment and evaluation of the development impact across the 17 goals in a consistent manner such that accountability is improved. Organizations like UNGGIM are constantly stressing on and advocating the need for the aggressive use of geospatial information and technology to enable societal benefits of SDGs.
It is in this spirit that UNGGIM is now organizing The United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC). The theme of the Congress, ‘The Geospatial way for a better world’, focuses on strengthening national geospatial information management and systems, and national implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Growing geospatial capabilities for sustainable societies – UNWGIC is setting the tone
The UNWGIC is all set to enable the governments and businesses world over to gain more insights on using the power of location analytics and Big Data for more effective outcomes. As the who’s who of the industry come together on this engaging platform, the ideas so generated will bring in digital transformation in the world at a much faster pace, thereby paving way for a more sustainable world.
All the geospatial professionals from governments, non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutions and the private sector are encouraged to register and thereby participate in the UNWGIC and contribute to the program, so as to work together to advance the potential and usefulness of geospatial information for sustainable development.
