New Space and Tech

Report: Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in South-East Asia 2022: A Compendium

By Keith Cowing
Press Release
United Nations
October 27, 2022
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Report: Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in South-East Asia 2022: A Compendium
Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in South-East Asia 2022: A Compendium
United Nations

The Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in South-East Asia 2022: A Compendium is a biennial publication series produced under the Asia-Pacific Plan of Action on Space Applications for Sustainable Development (2018–2030).

This 2022 edition of the Compendium documents over 60 good practices of using and applying geospatial information in the public sector, from across several countries in the South-East Asia, giving readers a comprehensive overview of how different space-based applications and methodologies have been used across the six priority thematic areas: (a) disaster risk reduction and resilience; (b) management of natural resources; (c) connectivity; (d) social development; (e) energy; and (f) climate change. The compelling practices that are selected, demonstrate the innovative and unique uses of space applications, and which provide clear benefits for users. The prime examples are further analysed from the lens of making geospatial information available, accessible, affordable and actionable.

The depth and range of geospatial practices, featured in this Compendium, are proof of the steady progress that countries in South-East Asia are making towards implementing the Plan of Action on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (2018–2030) to advance progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. It comprises 188 actions and all are designed to contribute significantly to 37 targets of 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Compendium concludes with five policy recommendations for consideration by countries in this region to accelerate the implementation of the Phase II of the Plan of Action with “Space+ for our Earth and future” as its guiding theme. Space+ leverages the strong potential of innovative digital applications that the integrated use of emerging technologies, brought by the fourth industrial revolution, offers for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in conjunction with multi-sectoral user engagement; effective management of data and information; and enhanced partnerships.

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SpaceRef co-founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.