Abstract
ABSTRACT Leaders are increasingly calling for improved decision support to manage human and environmental challenges in the 21st Century. The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framing of these challenges, wherein 169 targets require significant data to be monitored and pursued effectively. However, many targets are still not connected with big Earth data capabilities. In this conceptual paper, the authors sought to answer the question “How are partnerships influencing progress in using big Earth data to address the SDGs?” Using the Pivotal Principles for Digital Earth, we reflect on the geospatial sector’s partnering efforts and opportunities for enhancing the use of big Earth data. We use Australia as a case study to explore partnering for action towards one or more SDGs. We conclude that partnerships are emerging for big Earth data use in addressing the SDGs, but much can still be done to harness the power of partnerships for transformative SDG outcomes. We propose four key enabling priorities: 1) multiple-stakeholder collaboration, 2) regular enactment of the problem-solving cycle, 3) transparent and reliable georeferenced data, and 4) development and preservation of trust. Five “next steps” are outlined for Australia, which can also benefit practitioners and leaders globally in problem-solving for the SDGs.
Highlights
The United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) require targeted local action, at-scale, around the globe (Metternicht, Mueller, & Lucas, 2020)
The full extent of the literature review comprised: 1) understanding the extent of partnerships related to big Earth data, in Australia and internationally; and 2) appreciating the value of partnerships in translating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) challenges into problem statements that could be addressed with big Earth data
We present an exploration of the construct of “partnerships” for sustainable development, and “big Earth data” in the context of the SDGs to underpin our consideration of the research question, “How are partnerships influencing progress in using big Earth data to address the SDGs?” The following paragraphs apply the discussion of theory to consider ways that partnerships could enhance the use of big Earth data to address the SDGs
Summary
The subsequent volume of data provides many logistical challenges for countries as they work to meet global reporting expectations on their progress, in addition to prioritisation challenges to understand where budgets and resources would be best spent (ICS, 2017) Referring to such logistical and prioritisation challenges, there are urgent calls for partnerships to improve coordinated action for the SDGs (Nilsson, Griggs, & Visbeck, 2016; Weitz et al, 2017; UN, 2018b; UN, 2020b), where the term “partnerships” referred to spans any multi-organisational, informal and/or formal, financial and/or in-kind colla boration involving multiple stakeholders, to address sustainable development.
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