Geospatial and statistical experts focus on SDGs at annual meeting

Making space for location in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was just one of the topics to generate lively debate at the 3rd joint meeting of UN-GGIM: Europe and ESS.

The event, hosted by Eurostat at their offices in Luxembourg, saw representatives from European National Statistical Institutions and National Mapping and Cadastral Authorities come together to discuss ways of working together to further the objectives and work of UN-GGIM.

Marcel Jortay, Director, Eurostat gave the opening address and highlighted the benefits to be gained from the further collaboration of geospatial and statistical communities, not only for the SDGs but also Censuses 2021 and the wider need for geocoded data.

The agenda featured reports from UN-GGIM: Europe working groups, including the relationship of core data to the SDGs at global and regional level, the core data needs of statisticians and an update on the data integration working group.

Delegates also heard how colleagues in Germany are engaging with work on the SDGs and received an overview of the work of the IAEG-SDG sub working group on geospatial information from Denmark.

Presentations concluded with a focus on activities to monitor the SDGs as well as opportunities for further collaboration between the statistical and geospatial sectors from UNECE before Eurostat outlined work within the European Commission, and the set of EU wide indicators intended for monitoring SDGs at global and EU level.

Presentations from the meeting are available here.