1. GEO Blue Planet efforts to support the SDGs
GEO Plenary XIV Side Event
Earth Observations in Service of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
October 24, 2017
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Washington, D.C.
Paul DiGiacomo, Ph.D.
GEO Blue Planet
Steering Committee Co-Chair

2. Blue Planet & the SDGs Connecting users to providers
Current: engaging with users to identify data and information needs for sustainable development
Future: work with custodian agencies to identify data sources and support connections with users

3. Caribbean SDG Workshop
Implementing and Monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals in the Caribbean: The Role of the Ocean (January in 2018 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
The NASA-funded workshop is being planned in a collaborative effort of GEO Initiatives, governments of the Caribbean Small Island States, United Nations Agencies, and regional non-governmental organisations
The workshop will bring together stakeholders engaged in the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs in the Caribbean Small Island States with the goal to link these efforts to required ocean observations and to engage in the co-creation of the knowledge supporting these efforts.
Small Island States Governments Share Information requirements
Requirements matched with existing products and services
Requirements matched with planned/potential products and services
In a collaborative effort of GEO Initiatives, governments of the Caribbean Small Island States, United Nations Agencies, and regional non-governmental organisations, a workshop is organized that will bring together stakeholders engaged in the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs in the Caribbean Small Island States with the goal to link these efforts to required ocean observations and to engage in the co-creation of the knowledge supporting these efforts. Collaborating with the governments in the Small Island States and participating in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda is a novel avenue for those providing Earth observations to better understand what ocean observations are required and what products are available to inform decisions. These requirements, where possible, will be matched to existing data sets and services to create the knowledge needed by the governments and the people in the Caribbean Small Island States, and gaps will be addressed where such products don’t exist or are not accessible.

4. Future SDG Workshop
The Caribbean workshop will be a pilot for future workshops in other regions

5. Support of Regional Projects
4M – Multipurpose Marine Monitoring Mechanism
Project concept (for implementation in Barbados and Grenada) currently being developed by UNDP Barbados and the OECS, IOCARIBE-GOOS and GEO Blue Planet
The 4M project will provide data and information necessary for successful implementation of the SDGs in the Caribbean
OECS is the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
This project is under development. GEO Blue Planet is working to facilitate partnerships for UNDP Barbados and IOCARIBE-GOOS