Technology in China Helping with ESG Goals
A Brief Summary
Remote sensing technologies and Big Earth Data in China help other countries pursue sustainable development goals by sharing data, insights and analytical tools.
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Big Earth Data are data related to Earth sciences such as geology, atmospheric conditions, oceanography, human activities and others. Remote sensing technology means the use of satellite or aircraft sensors to collect data about an object without having physical contact.
China, in November, launched SDGSAT-1, the first scientific satellite in the world developed to fulfil the 17 requirements mentioned in the United Nations' 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
In September, China opened the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable development Goals, the first institution in the world to specialise in using Big Earth Data to understand the SDGs. President Xi Jinping and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lauded the efforts.
According to Guo Huadong, a member of the 13 National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the biggest hurdle to achieving the SDGs is the lack of data available to analyse and evaluate their progress. He said the satellite aims to examine traces of human activity to help study SDG indicators related to human-nature interaction, which play a significant role in building sustainable cities and communities.
The Earth sciences data will also benefit aquatic and terrestrial life conditions apart from SDGs related to climate actions. Researchers and policymakers can make innovations related to sustainable development based on scientific facts, Guo said.
He said the first batch of data collected by the satellite is waiting for release later this year, and organisations from different countries can apply and use the data for free.
The centre will help those institutions lacking the tools to process and analyse such big data by providing cloud computing and other data services.
China is looking forward to developing and launching a series of scientific satellites to achieve SDGs and help developing countries achieve their sustainable goals using the technology.
