On June 19-20, EARSC attended the 11th Plenary Meeting of the European Region of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM: Europe) in Geneva, Switzerland. This significant event coincided with the 72nd plenary session of the Conference of European Statisticians (CES), featuring a Common Day jointly hosted by UN-GGIM: Europe and CES. The event brought together senior executives from national geospatial information and statistical authorities within Member States, as well as international geospatial experts from across the region.
Throughout the sessions, the use of Earth Observation was highlighted as a key tool in supporting the collection, analysis, and integration of geospatial data with official statistics. EO provides valuable insights into environmental changes, helps monitor biodiversity, and supports the implementation of the SDGs but also the EU’s Green Deal objectives. The integration of EO with statistical systems can enhance the accuracy and timeliness of data, enabling better-informed decision-making processes. Speakers from both days reiterated the high value of geospatial data in providing essential location-based information to address global challenges.
The meetings were characterized by substantial discussions and insightful presentations that highlighted the ongoing work of the UNGGIM Regional Committee and the critical role of geospatial data in addressing climate change and health responses, and the necessity of integrating official statistics with authoritative geospatial data.
EARSC engaged with the statistical community and discussed with NSOs European capabilities in monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by leveraging Copernicus data with specific examples of the SDGsEYES and ESA SEF projects.
