As we mentioned in the first part of this post, In 2000, 189 countries got together to improve Earth’s conditions by 2015. As a result of the satisfactory achievements, those countries met again and set 17 resolutions to 2030. Those resolutions are called UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and they are connected to health, climate, land, oceans, oceans, waterways, and others.

ESA supports each of them and in this posts we gonna talk about resolutions 3 to 8.

3 – Good Health and Well-Being

This goal aim is to ensure a healthy life and promote well-being for all at all ages.

ESA supports the usage of space industry knowledge and technology for health, as well as ISS researches. ESA also promotes telemedicine using Satcom. As well as the use of satellites to help map deadly mosquitos, assess the risk of epidemics, and space aids in Ebola patients.

ESA supports Remote Diagnostic Technologies and International SoS project, which uses portable Satcom technology to transmit medical data from remote locations to doctors and healthcare professionals. That enables them to provide emergent long-distance support, avoiding unnecessary medical evacuation by reaching areas with poor roads or security challenges.

B-life is another project supported by ESA to take medical care to a remote location. The project aims to speed up diagnoses in humanitarian and medical emergencies. It has a tent with specialized equipment and an inflatable satellite antenna that can be easily set-up. Doctors at the hospital can help in real-time to change treatment plans as the blood samples are analyzed. Besides, Satcom also enables humanitarian workers to keep contact with their families back home, making their long work shifts and climate conditions a bit less hard to handle.

B-life was used in N'Zerekobre. Before it left Belgium, it used information from EU Copernicus Emergency Management Service to help prepare the mission and later generate dynamic epidemiological data maps to monitor the spread of the Ebola virus.

ESA also supported the development of Vecmap, a software and services package, including a smartphone app for field studies that have a time and location information system linked to an online database, which pools satellite information with results from field research. Satnav's usage helps researchers track samples and equipment, find testing sites, and locate traps for return and analysis in the lab. Also, to locate field team members, what is critical for their safety in dangerous environments.

The traps' location is chosen based on data from satellite observations, saving time and costs with fieldwork, usually the most expensive part of gathering data. The results are collected online and allow researchers to map high-risk areas using satellite images. The project is a single-entry point for the information needed to predict and prevent infection. With changes in the environment, global trade, and travel, what increases pets' numbers and movement. Therefore, identifying and predicting existent local species distribution and the spread of new ones is vital to assessing potential epidemics risks.

4 – Quality Education

The resolution aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

ESA is involved in activities that support telelearning and offer educators tools, such as ESA kids and other educational projects.

One example is an ESA supported project that equipped schools from rural areas of South Africa and Italy with satellite terminals, solar panels and batteries, laptops, tablets, a projector with screen, and loudspeakers. The infrastructure uses Satcom to allow internet connectivity and access to eLearning, media content, information for teachers and students, and monitoring tools.

5 - Gender Equality

The resolution aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

ESA is attracting more women to science and technology careers.

The European Space Agency has a dedicated project together with Sipa Press, Space Girls - Space Women. It is an exhibition to showcase inspiring stories of women working in space and girls dreaming about space. ESA hopes are to attract women to science and technology careers by showing how women can shape their working environment in space research technology. For many years, ESA has an Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy and works towards combating underrepresentation in high visibility roles in scientific and technical domains.

6– Clean Water and Sanitation

The goal aim is to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

To help reach it, ESA works towards recycling water and monitoring its quality and closed-loop systems.

TIGER is a project ESA launched in 2002 in response to the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), where it was brought to attention the urgent need to act in Africa. TIGER uses Earth Observation (EO) to improve Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The goal is to help solve the problems encountered during collection, analysis, and use of water-related geo-information, filling relevant gaps in existing information at regional and national levels, mitigating water scarcity in Africa with effective and sustainable water resources management.

ESA was also involved in a project in the SASS-Djeffara basin (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya) area called GEO-Aquifer, in partnership with institutions responsible for water management in the SASS area. The project envisioned using satellite and geographic data and offered resources to improve land cover mapping, analysis, usage, degradation, changes, pressures exerted by the population, and overexploitation of water resources. The project also offered vegetation and water monitoring; rainfall, water abstraction, and crop water consumption estimates; evapotranspiration, water balance maps. EO based technology was used to help manage internationally shared aquifers and support the organization responsible for managing water resources. ESA also developed and demonstrated products responding to users' needs and trained users to use remote sensing-based information and applications to create sustainable water management.

The European Space Agency has been active in the regenerative life support system field for over 30 years. One of the projects started in 1987 is called MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative). With the focus on a circular life support system, its goal is to gain knowledge on the field, focusing on the highest degree of autonomy to produce food, water, and oxygen from mission wastes.

ESA also supports the web application eoApp, allowing anyone to see water quality parameters in selecting sites across the globe. The application is the first to offer harmonized, high-resolution inland water quality information using monitoring service based on satellite data. The easy information access and incorporation into water agencies and industries' workflow can improve the understand and management of inland waters, bringing benefits to the environment and society.

7 – Affordable & Clean Energy

The goal aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

ESA is involved in solar energy projects and energy researches. For example, the Electric Propulsion Innovation & Competitiveness (EPIC) part of the Programme Support Activity (PSA) for the implementation of the Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) on In-Space electrical propulsion and station keeping. European Commission funds the project as part of the Horizon 2020 Space Work Programme 2014. The program goal is to enable advances for in-space operations and transportations, increasing European competitiveness in different space areas. The program offers a clear and integrated roadmap of activities and a master plan for coordination, contributing to an increase in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the related EP technologies.

8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

The aim is to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

To help reach that, ESA has been supporting regional development and creating jobs.

The Copernicus program offers economic growth and regional development opportunities, helps answer scientific questions, stimulates innovation, cost avoidance, and promotes benefits to society and the environment. Copernicus use accurate and timely data from satellites and different sources that allow improvements in environmental management, help with climate change mitigation, create application and services for citizens and business, improve everyday life, and generate employment and business opportunities.

The data from Sentinel satellites is also critical for European research and development, allowing small businesses to access that information for free under an open data policy, allowing the creation of new products and services for profit. And Copernicus ensures the data will be long-term available for business development.

Satellite data is also used to identify how the oceans are used. That is useful for the marine community and operational agencies. The satellites' information promotes seas and oceans' development in aquaculture, renewable energy, resource extraction, fisheries protection, and tourism. Together with over 40 Irish companies and researchers, ESA uses satellite data to create innovative maritime services. The technology innovation is generating growth and employment, increasing export sales, and contributing to socio-economic activities.

The growth of ESA in 2015, with the opening of the UK facility, the Science & Technology Facilities Council in Harwell Campus, leading to the development of the international hub of space, science, and business, and economic growth of the space sector, creating new business and employment.

ESA has an active role in all GDSs resolutions, and we will present the more goals in the next post.

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This article was written by Juliane Verissímo - Marketing Department of VisionSpace

ESA and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) - Part 2