On Wednesday, September 25, Professor Koundouri delivered a speech at the Family Offices for Sustainable Development Summit, hosted by the PVBLIC Foundation at the United Nations Headquarters. The sum
mit gathered global family offices, leaders, and officials to explore partnerships, data, Small Island Developing States, and investments aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
During the panel discussion titled “Data as the Equalizer: Driving Human Progress, Technology, and Nature’s Preservation,” moderated by Dr. Greg Scott, Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance, and featuring Dr. Alix Cantave, Program Director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the participants delved into the potential of data as a powerful equalizer. They discussed its crucial role in driving economic growth, promoting equity, and preserving ecosystems, highlighting how data-driven approaches contribute to inclusive and sustainable development worldwide.
Professor Koundouri emphasized the work of the SDSN Global Climate Hub, which focuses on the intersection of economy, society, and the environment—the three pillars of sustainable development. She underscored the importance of geospatial and environmental data in protecting nature while fostering sustainable economic growth and how technological innovations in data can address urgent global environmental challenges, particularly the escalating climate
crisis.