The recording of the EO Café session, “Unlocking EO for the SDGs: the road to 2030 and beyond,” is now available.
Together with Dr. Marc Paganini (ESA), the session examined how Earth Observation can support accelerated and more effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as 2030 approaches, while also informing the post-2030 development agenda.
In her intervention, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri emphasized that the achievement of the SDGs is not feasible without the systematic integration of Earth Observation. She underscored the necessity of combining geospatial, environmental, and socioeconomic data to understand the complex and interconnected global challenges of our time and to design science-based, actionable pathways for sustainable development.
Prof. Koundouri presented a three-step, data-driven implementation framework:
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Continuous monitoring and assessment using Earth Observation, statistical datasets, IoT outputs, and socioeconomic indicators.
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Development of science-based pathways and integrated modelling that capture interdependencies across land, water, energy, ecosystems, the economy, and society.
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Advancements in financing, capacity building, and governance reform to ensure equitable, scalable, and effective implementation.
