Everything that happens, happens somewhere over space and time. The world is getting more connected and goods, persons and information can travel greater distances in shorter amounts of time. However, this has not eliminated hunger, poverty, disease, disasters and environmental challenges. In order to measure, monitor and mitigate these challenges we need to bring together the best data – satellite, demographic, statistical, geospatial, and environmental – linking the data together with the one thing they have in common – location.

To highlight the significant role that geographical information – collected at local, national and global level – plays in the realization of the sustainable development goals, the United Nations initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), in collaboration with the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations organized a side event themed ‘Unleashing the power of “where” to make the world a better place: How geographic information contributes to achieving the SDG’s’.

The side event outlined the many ways in which geographic information helps governments measure and monitor the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Satellites can do much more than just take pretty pictures from space,” Lawrence Friedl, Director of NASA’s Applied Science Program and one of the panellists remarked.

Geospatial information systems help statisticians collect, manage, analyse and display detailed geographical information about the earth and all processes and circumstances existing on it. These systems can be used to visualize complex data in the form of charts, maps and report. By making the data easily understood and shared, they give policymakers an insight into patterns, relationships and trends that occur within our society.

Yusuf Djajadihardja, Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Geospatial Information Agency, and one of the events’ panellists, emphasized the importance of the collection of geographic information for the Indonesian archipelago. The country not only has a rapidly expanding population and economy, but also experiences many natural threats, including volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes.

The same is true for the world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS). While most of them are popular tourist destinations, the deterioration of fragile ecosystems severely impacts both traditional agriculture and the tourism industry locally. Getting a clearer picture on where most of the problems occur is the first step into creating policy that promotes sustainable development.

“Geospatial data is critical to contribute to evidence-based decision making in addressing the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS,” Nadine Brown of the Sustainable Development and Regional Planning Division of the Planning Institute of Jamaica said.

The United Nations initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) aims at playing a leading role in setting the agenda for the development of global geospatial information and to promote its use to address key global challenges. It provides a forum to liaise and coordinate among Member States, and between Member States and international organizations.

For more information: The United Nations initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management 

The strengthening of social development in the contemporary world will be at the center of an expert group meeting organized at UN headquarters in New York on 19-20 May by UN DESA’s Division on Social Policy and Development Division (DSPD) in preparation for the 54th session of the Commission for Social Development.

Building on discussions on the review of progress made in social development during and in the lead-up to the Commission’s 53rd session, experts will discuss broad policy directions to strengthen social development, identify challenges and opportunities for social policy, and explore effective social policy frameworks in the context of implementing the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.

The outcomes of the meeting will contribute to the work of the Commission by providing concrete, evidence-based recommendations for promoting and strengthening social development and for improving the formulation and implementation of policy frameworks that affect social progress.

For more information: UN DESA’s Division on Social Policy and Development

The Expert Group on International Statistical Classifications will hold its biennial meeting in New York on 19-22 May 2015. It will discuss a wide range of topics, targeting specific classifications and broader issues including: the new concept of the Family of International Classifications, metadata standards and information models, the impact of the integration of statistical and geospatial information on international classifications, and implications for classifications arising out of the use of big data.

Among the individual classifications to be discussed by the Expert group are: a proposal to revise the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP), a discussion on the need to revise the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC), and the recent update of the Central product Classification (CPC).

The Expert Group will also review progress made in the revisions of the Classification by Broad Economic Categories (BEC), the International Classification of Activities for Time Use Statistics (ICATUS) and the International Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93) and discuss experiences from the development and implementation of classifications such as the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO08), the International Classification for Crime Statistics (ICCS) and the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS).

For more information: United Nations Statistics Division

The United Nations would like to hear how disability is included in emergency plans of your neighbourhood, office, school, community. Information available shows that persons with disabilities, when compared to the general population, are disproportionately affected by natural disasters and emergency situations, and are often left behind during such situations.

Moreover, persons with disabilities are a unique resource of knowledge and experience that can help reduce the risk of disasters to help build resilient communities. During the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, persons and children with disabilities who had been trained in disaster risk reduction programmes, led the evacuation process and help save the lives of many members of their community.

Share your story to help us highlight good practices and lessons learned in including the needs and perspectives of persons with disabilities – before, during or after – disaster and emergency situations.

General guidelines to write your story:

1. Stories should be under 300 words and emailed to enable@un.org, with the Subject: Inclusion saves lives story and include a photograph.
2. Stories must include facts about real situations and actions taken in your neighbourhood, school, office, community, etc.
3. What barriers and challenges were faced before, during or after a disaster or emergency situation and how were they overcome?
4. Does your neighbourhood, school, office, community, etc. have an emergency plan that includes persons with disabilities? Do periodic fire or evacuation drills include everybody? Describe something unique about it.
5. Let us know what Governments and local organizations of persons with disabilities have done to include everyone in disaster and emergency situation planning, recovery efforts and reconstruction.

For more information: United Nations Enable