ISNET’s Contribution towards Achieving SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals 2030 are the latest guidelines covering all areas of socio-economic development, while focusing on improving health and education, reducing inequality, and spurring economic growth worldwide. SDGs are a call for action to change the course of history—to make development benefit all and to safeguard the planet for future generations impetus.

Space programs, such as Earth Observation (EO) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), can make significant contributions in different areas, including natural disaster forecasting, air and water quality monitoring, emergency response, search and rescue operations, and more. In addition, the use of data contributes to building stronger partnerships and coordination for the peaceful uses of outer space, and helps to reduce the space divide.

Governments are expected to play a leading role in SDG’s implementation; however, to bring about meaningful change this new agenda must resonate across different sectors and stakeholders. This fits with the global consultation among governments, experts, and a wide range of other stakeholders that supported the formulation of the SDGs.

ISNET is cognizant of the significant role space technology & applications can play in achieving the SDGs and understands the role of Government and other stake holders. Foregoing in view, ISNET has embarked upon a comprehensive plan to promote SDGs and stress the role of space in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this regard, a series of webinar is also planned. The first webinar on “Space for the Sustainable Development Goals: Implementation in ISNET Member States” was organized in Jul 2021. The main objective of the webinar was to present SDG’s initiatives of member states and to elaborate roadmaps that could serve as guidance.

Considering the significance of this topic and to take forward the outcome of this webinar, ISNET took the initiative to organize “Outstanding Award Program on Implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Space Science and Technology”. The awards were given to the initiatives/practices that holds the greatest promise for improving our understanding of harnessing space-based technology & applications for achieving the SDGs. Renowned experts on SDGs from UNESCAP, GEO and SESRIC were part of its panel of judges.
The top 6x proposals were evaluated during International Conference on Space (ICS-2022). The evaluation session was followed next day by talk on SDGs by judges and at the end of this session results were announced.