IGU-YECG Special Issue: Geospatiality And Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The rapid human development and the conflicts between society, economy and environment has greatly hindered the implementation of sustainable development strategy. The ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides a universal framework for addressing the issues identified in previous development agendas and achieving policy goals in social, economic and environmental spheres. However, the governments and decision-makers across the world have been facing challenges related to monitoring and assessing the progress of SDGs. The use of geospatial science and spatial data architectures can address these challenges and support holistic monitoring and evaluation of SDGs. This editorial paper discusses the role of geospatial science in implementation of SDGs by drawing on the scholarly works published in the special issue titled ‘Geospatiality and Sustainable Development Goals’. The issue provided a platform for research publications by young and early career geographers from across the world. Several papers in the issue were drawn from different IGU conference sessions organised by the IGU-Task Force for Young and Early Career Geographers (IGU-YECG) since from its establishment (Beijing, 2016) to the upcoming 34th IGC at Istanbul (2021). By bringing the debates on SDGs to the forefront explicitly, this editorial paper reinstates interest in the topic.

Keywords

• geospatiality
• sustainable development goals
• covid-19
• urbanisation
• international geographical union