At First United Nations Geospatial Information Congress, Secretary-General Encourages Use of Reliable Data to Build Safer, Better World for All

Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress, in Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China, today:

I am pleased to greet the first United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress.  To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we need reliable, timely, accessible and disaggregated geospatial information for decision‑making, ensuring effective and inclusive development initiatives and measuring progress.

Your expertise in geospatial data, methods, frameworks, tools, and platforms is essential.  During the next three days, you will address a wide range of issues, from new and emerging technologies, sharing the digital economy and building smart societies to promoting international cooperation and building a human data and geography community for a shared future.

I wish you a productive meeting.  Let us use geospatial information to build a safer, better world where no one is left behind.  Thank you.