Delegates in the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a consensus resolution last week, by which they addressed global geospatial information management. The document entitled “A global geodetic reference frame for sustainable development” (A/RES/69/266) urges States to voluntarily implement open sharing of geodetic data, standards and conventions, inviting them to improve national geodetic infrastructure and engage in multilateral cooperation that addressed infrastructure gaps and duplications, towards the development of a more sustainable geodetic reference frame.
The Asia-Pacific region is the most disaster-prone region of the world. It continually faces multiple shocks, transcending geographical boundaries and endangering communities and livelihoods. Building resilience to multiple shocks is therefore one of the most pressing challenges for policymakers in the region.
Space technologies play an important role in many areas of activity within the United Nations, both in relation to disaster risk management and emergency response. Various agencies are involved in disaster risk reduction and emergency response efforts, and can therefore greatly benefit from space-based information.
The United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on 29 August 2014 the establishment of an Independent Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development. He expects the group to provide him with inputs to shape “an ambitious and achievable vision” for a future development agenda beyond 2015 to succeed the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
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The mission of the UN/Mexico Symposium is to enhance access to space application tools for sustainable development through building capacity in basic space technology.
The objectives that will be discussed during the technical sessions include:
1. Review the status of capacity building in basic space technology including lessons learned from the past and on-going small satellite (<100 kg) development activities with a focus on regional and international collaboration opportunities in particular also for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean;
This is event is available for participation on an ongoing basis
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This open-ended Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, which will take place on March 2015 in Japan, is established to review the organizational and substantive preparations for the Conference, approve the programme of work of the Conference, and propose rules of procedure for adoption by the Conference.
The Preparatory Committee will hold plenary meetings on considerations on the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction and technical workshops.
This is event is available for participation on an ongoing basis
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NGO's, NPO's and GIS experts from all around the world will gather between 7-8 April in Geneva Switzerland for the 2014 GIS for the United Nations Conference.
The Conference aims to show the possibilities Geospatial Information Systems and Geography have to offer to aid programs and other activities as well as to establish a platform for information exchange between stakeholders.
The Conference is jointly hosted by UNITAR’s Operational Satellite Application Programme (UNOSAT), World Bank Institute and Esri.
Registration and the agenda will be available soon.
The General Assembly confirmed that the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction will take place in Sendai City, Japan from 14 to18 March 2015. The main topic on the Conference will be the renewal and further development of the Hyogo Framework for Action which was adopted in 2005 in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster.
From 12-13 November 2013, the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), a cooperation framework under the UN umbrella, met in Brussels to draw up benchmarks that regional crisis centres can use to improve coordination. There are eight regional crisis centres in the world and also two global crisis centres run by the UN, which compile, analyse and share information in the early days of a disaster, sending out alerts and providing needs to aid humanitarian responders and maps of affected areas. However, it is crucial to improve coordination among the centres.
On 9 July 2013 the General Assembly established a new High-level Political Forum, which will replace the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, to boost efforts to tackle global economic, social and environmental challenges.
In a resolution adopted by consensus, the 193-member Assembly emphasized the need for an improved and more effective institutional framework for sustainable development, and decided that the Forum should provide “a dynamic platform for regular dialogue and for stocktaking and agenda-setting to advance that process.”
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