At the 6th G-STIC, GMES and Africa Leadership Dives Deep into Earth Observation and the Sustainable Development Goals
The Coordinator of GMES and Africa Program, along with the Team Leader of the Technical Assistance Team (TAT), participated in the 6th G-STIC Conference held on February 13th 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The conference involved a deep dive session on Earth Observation and the Sustainable Development Goals
Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, in his intervention, highlighted the advantages of utilizing space science and technology in managing Africa's natural resources and providing data to enhance the lives of its large population. He focused on the potential of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in addressing various aspects of the 2030 Agenda. He emphasized the crucial role of satellite Earth Observation (EO) technology in combining spatial and temporal coverage with in-situ observations, geospatial information, and socioeconomic data to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda.
Dr. Ouattara also spoke about the GMES and Africa program, which is funded by the European and African Union Commissions, and supports Africa in realizing its aspirations under Agenda 2063. The program has six outputs, related to policy and institutional framework, infrastructure and data, service development, capacity building, knowledge management, and awareness and outreach. It offers two services – for marine and coastal areas, and water and natural resources. Dr. Ouattara shared concrete examples of the program's impact, such as reducing the number of fatalities among fishermen through the use of ocean weather forecasts.
In conclusion, Dr. Ouattara emphasized the significance of involving all stakeholders in using Earth observation for sustainable development, including policymakers, decision-makers, and end-users.
The event offered a valuable opportunity for the AUC representatives to explore potential collaborations and synergies with several institutions, including:
- The Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre), for developing ocean and coastal monitoring systems.
- The National Institute for Space Research in Brazil (INPE), for monitoring tropical forests and how this could benefit the Congo forests.
- The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), for developing space-related policies and applications that align with Africa's priorities.
- The Group on Earth Observations (GEO), for providing opportunities to build capacity, share knowledge and coordinate with other global earth observation initiatives.
About G-STIC
G-STIC, or the Global Sustainable Technological and Innovation Community, is a platform that encourages collaboration between companies, social and economic actors, and policymakers to create solutions that benefit the economy, the environment, and society. G-STIC emphasizes the need to explore innovative approaches, laws, regulations, and funding mechanisms beyond technological innovation to upscale and accelerate the deployment of market-ready technological solutions. The conference hosted by G-STIC in Rio aimed to inspire thought leaders and innovators to accelerate breakthrough technological solutions for the SDGs. The conference was jointly hosted by VITO and seven other not-for-profit independent technology research institutes from Brazil, South Africa, China, South Korea, Nigeria, India, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
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