Digital Earth Special Session Scales  Ups Island Nations' Capacity for SDGs

A special session on Digital Earth Technologies for Promoting Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and South Pacific Island Countries (SPIC) was held at the International Science and Technology Organizations Headquarters in Beijing on September 5, 2025.

Co-organized by the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), and other partners—with support from the Pacific Academy of Sciences (PAS) and the Beijing International Science and Technology Exchange Center (BISTEC)—the event brought together more than 50 delegates from SIDS governments, UN agencies, and international institutions.

Discussions focused on how Digital Earth and geospatial technologies can help island nations monitor progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address their unique challenges. Participants emphasized the need for closer international cooperation, open data sharing, and practical steps to strengthen capacity across SIDS.

Opening remarks were delivered by UN DESA officials Mr. Sai Navoti, Chief of the SIDS Unit; Mr. LIU Wei, IATT Coordinator; and Ms. Azeema Adam, Senior Inter-Regional Adviser, along with ISDE Secretary-General Prof. WANG Changlin.

Opening remarks session. (Image by AIR)

Mr. Navoti praised SIDS for emerging as pioneers in renewable energy, piloting solar, wind, and tidal power projects that could inspire global solutions. He stressed that Digital Earth technologies are vital for building capacity and amplifying the collective voice of SIDS on the global stage. Prof. Wang highlighted that Digital Earth technologies play a central role in advancing the SDGs, climate action, disaster risk reduction, and digital economies—offering potential solutions to pressing challenges faced by island nations.

The program featured six keynote presentations covering a wide spectrum of issues, from climate change and ocean monitoring to artificial intelligence and disaster resilience. Speakers included Felix Xavier Estico, UN Secretary-General's High-level Representative for Science, Technology and Innovation and Executive Chairman of the Seychelles Centre for Innovation and Sustainable Development; Prof. JIA Gensuo, Deputy Director General of CBAS; Dr. Sharon Torao Pingi from the University of Papua New Guinea; Prof. ZHANG Huaguo of the Second Institute of Oceanography, China; Mrs. Chandranee Rughoobur from Statistics Mauritius; and Prof. Saini Yang, Executive Director of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk of the International Science Council.

Keynote presentations. (Image by AIR)

A lively panel discussion followed, exploring targeted strategies for SIDS beyond "one-size-fits-all" solutions. Experts underscored the importance of responsible AI, digital toolkits to bridge data and capacity gaps, and stronger international partnerships.

Panel discussion. (Image by AIR)

The session was part of the broader Capacity Building Workshop for SIDS: Leveraging Big Earth Data to Evaluate SDG Progress (September 1–8). Representatives from 13 countries—including Mauritius, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, the Maldives, and Fiji—joined UN delegates and international experts in a week of training and exchange.

The workshop built on the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), adopted in 2024, and reaffirmed the urgency of tackling the vulnerabilities of island nations, such as geographic isolation, economic fragility, and exposure to climate hazards. This marked the second Beijing-based workshop on Big Earth Data for SIDS. The inaugural session in 2024 had already drawn global attention, with its outcomes featured on the UN DESA website.

Group photo. (Image by AIR)