The GEO Earth Observations for Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG) Initiative announces the GEO SDG Awards Programme 2020 to recognize productivity, innovation, novelty and exemplary efforts in the use of Earth observations to support sustainable development. Launched last year, this annual award is presented to those making an impact on the 17 "Sustainable Development Goals."
Set by the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development these 17 goals provide a universal set of priorities to use as a blueprint of action for people, the planet, and prosperity. Earth observations, geospatial data, and the information they provide play insightful roles in monitoring targets, tracking progress, as well as helping nations and stakeholders make informed decisions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The annual GEO SDG award celebrates progress toward achieving an "SDG Target" and/or producing, or reporting on, a "SDG Indicator." EO4SDG invites nominations from GEO member countries, GEO participating organizations, SDG custodian agencies, GEO work program elements, academic institutions and a newly added category, GEO Associates, which encompass commercial, non-governmental, not-for-profit, and civil society organizations. The call for nominations is open now until June 30, 2020.
The awards include sectoral and special award categories. Sectoral awards focus on the type of organization and the nature of their work. Special awards recognize specific key tenets and objectives the awards are intended to highlight including innovation, statistical-geospatial integration, testimonial/story and collaboration.
Learn more about the program and how to submit a nomination at the EO4SDG website and via the GEO blog post. GEO, also known as the Group on Earth Observations, is a unique global network of international experts designed to build connections, identify gaps, share best practices and reduce duplication of effort in sustainable development and sound environmental management.
Our list of 2019 GEO SDG Awardees is available at the GEO website and all the photos from GEO Week 2019 awards ceremony and gala dinner are in the GEO photo gallery.
About EO4SDG: EO4SDG serves a fundamental role to advance global knowledge about effective ways that Earth observations and geospatial information can support the SDGs. The director of NASA's Earth Applied Sciences Program, Lawrence Friedl, serves as a co-chair of EO4SDG on behalf of the Unites States. Applied Sciences’ Argyro Kavvada serves as the executive secretary and as such is the administrator of the awards program.
Website: https://eo4sdg.org - Twitter: https://twitter.com/EO4SDG
