Fifteenth Session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM)

From 6 to 8 August 2025, the Fifteenth Session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) brought together representatives from all regions of the world in New York. For UN-GGIM: Europe, the session underscored one message above all others: the transformative power of interregional collaboration.

The Plenary recognised the essential role of the five UN-GGIM regional committees in delivering the global geospatial agenda, highlighting the need to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and align approaches across regions. UN-GGIM: Europe actively contributes to this vision, participating in other regions’ plenary meetings, engaging in joint initiatives, and driving forward proposals such as the hybrid global hub on effective land administration. These activities ensure that experiences and innovations from Europe contribute to, and are enriched by, the collective knowledge and practices of all regions.

Such cooperation is central to implementing key frameworks, including the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework (GSGF) and the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF). By fostering stronger ties between National Mapping and Cadastral Authorities (NMCAs) and National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) across and beyond Europe, we are building coherent, interoperable, and policy-relevant data ecosystems that serve both regional and global priorities.

On the geodesy front, UN-GGIM welcomed coordinated work with the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence, including capacity development, strengthened cooperation mechanisms, and efforts to safeguard geodetic observations alongside the First Joint Development Plan on Global Geodesy.

The session also marked the adoption of the UN-GGIM Strategic Framework 2025–2030, aligning all regions under common objectives and setting the stage for the Third United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress in Riyadh in 2026. This Congress will provide a key opportunity to showcase the results of strengthened interregional partnerships.

Looking ahead, UN-GGIM: Europe will continue to prioritise collaboration across regions, recognising that the challenges we face are global, and so too must be the solutions. We extend our sincere appreciation to all Member States, and partners whose expertise and dedication make this work possible. Together, we are shaping a harmonised, coordinated, and inclusive future for geospatial and statistical integration, one that is more connected, data-driven, and ready to address the needs of our world.

Documents can be accessed here

Recordings can be accessed via the UN Web TV