US: “UN–Space is an opportunity to discuss the views of United Nations entities on the role of space-related activities in a wider context of the global development agenda.” said United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Director Simonetta Di Pippo in her opening remarks at the 34th session of UN–Space which commenced on May 14 in New York. “I hope that our collaboration will result in greater use of space technology as an enabler and a means of implementation of the development objectives in the work of the United Nations entities and Member States,” added. Di Pippo.
UN–Space, the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities, brings together UN entities annually to discuss and cooperate on the use of space-related activities for development, within their respective mandates. This year, the meeting is being held in conjunction with the United Nations Geographic Information Working Group (UNGIWG) from May 2014, and will discuss the contribution of space-based technology for climate change, disaster risk reduction and emergency response and the use of spatial data and activities related to the UNGIWG and the United Nations Spatial Data Infrastructure.
There will also be an open session on May 14 on the topic of “Engaging Space Tools for Development on Earth – Contribution of Space Technology and Applications to the Post-2015 Development Agenda”. The open informal session is an interactive forum for Governments, national authorities, United Nations system entities, private sector and civil society and aims at promoting the pivotal importance of space technology and applications for eradicating poverty and advancing development in the post-2015 framework.
Source: UN-Space
