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People, Planet, and Prosperity

The ideas of people, planet, and prosperity underpin the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an international plan signed by all United Nations (U.N.) member states in 2015. This plan outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with 169 underlying targets. The plan was developed by a U.N. working group comprised of representatives from 70 countries who gathered information and engaged with global communities to determine what the SDGs should include.

The 17 goals within the framework are:

icon collage of the 17 sustainable development goals

Each goal of the SDG framework serves as an aspiration of what U.N. member countries hope to ideally achieve in the future. Each goal has targets to help in achieving the goal and each target has several indicators for measuring progress. Credit: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The vision of the SDG framework encourages every country to assume responsibility for planning and providing better outcomes for future generations, leaving no one behind. Participating countries are tasked with developing sustainable solutions for each goal by the year 2030; progress toward meeting these goals is measured by 230 different indicators. The plan promotes the triple bottom line concept of sustainability: every solution must consider and account for social justice, a healthy environment, and economic viability.
 

NASA Earth observation (EO) data are playing a key role in assessing progress toward meeting the SDGs. EO data inform our daily lives, providing information that enhances our understanding of the interconnectedness of people, the planet, and prosperity. EO data are used in tracking biodiversity, assessing the impact of disasters, managing natural resources, observing land use changes, and mitigating climate change. The Group on Earth Observations (GEO), of which NASA is a partner, has developed a coordinated and consistent set of observations that can be used in assessing many of the SDGs.
 

Learn more about how NASA Earth science data can help reach these goals:

SDG 1: No Poverty

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders: 

  • Sea Level Change: Global sea level has risen 8 to 9 inches since reliable record keeping began in 1880 and is projected to rise another 1 to 8 feet by 2100.
    This Data Pathfinder directs users to NASA datasets that can aid in tracking changes in glaciers and ice sheets, ocean processes, land water storage, and other factors contributing to a changing sea level.
  • Wildfires: Along with their destructive power, naturally-occurring wildfires are a vital component of forest growth, ecological succession, and soil nutrient enhancement. NASA provides datasets and tools for assessing and managing wildfires before, during, and after an event.
SDG 2: Zero Hunger

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Agriculture and Water Management: Drought, vegetation health, and soil moisture all can be tracked remotely. This Data Pathfinder provides links to NASA Earth observations, tools, and other resources applicable to agricultural production and water management.
  • Extreme Heat: Extreme heat events lasting a few days to weeks at a time are occurring more frequently in major cities across the world and can have detrimental impacts on public health. NASA data can help forecast and monitor these events.
  • Sea Level Change: Global sea level has risen 8 to 9 inches since reliable record keeping began in 1880 and is projected to rise another 1 to 8 feet by 2100. This Data Pathfinder directs users to NASA datasets that can aid in tracking changes in glaciers and ice sheets, ocean processes, land water storage, and other factors contributing to changing sea levels.
  • Wildfires: Along with their destructive power, naturally-occurring wildfires are a vital component of forest growth, ecological succession, and soil nutrient enhancement. NASA provides datasets and tools for assessing and managing wildfires before, during, and after an event.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Air Quality: Poor air quality is one of the largest global environmental and health threats. The resources available through this Data Pathfinder provide ways to forecast poor air quality, track trace gases, visualize air quality trends, and forecast the movement of pollutants.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Agriculture and Water Management: Drought, vegetation health, and soil moisture all can be tracked remotely. This Data Pathfinder provides links to NASA Earth observations, tools, and other resources applicable to agricultural production and water management.
  • Water Quality: Data collected remotely from sensors aboard satellites and aircraft or deployed in and under water are an important tool for addressing the need to better understand factors impacting water quality.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Air Quality: Poor air quality is one of the largest global environmental and health threats. The resources available through this Data Pathfinder provide ways to forecast poor air quality, track trace gases, visualize air quality trends, and forecast the movement of pollutants.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Air Quality: Poor air quality is one of the largest global environmental and health threats. The resources available through this Data Pathfinder provide ways to forecast poor air quality, track trace gases, visualize air quality trends, and forecast the movement of pollutants.
  • Sea Level Change: Global sea level has risen 8 to 9 inches since reliable record keeping began in 1880 and is projected to rise another 1 to 8 feet by 2100. This Data Pathfinder directs users to NASA datasets that can aid in tracking changes in glaciers and ice sheets, ocean processes, land water storage, and other factors contributing to changing sea levels.
  • Wildfires: Along with their destructive power, naturally-occurring wildfires are a vital component of forest growth, ecological succession, and soil nutrient enhancement. NASA provides datasets and tools for assessing and managing wildfires before, during, and after an event.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Agriculture and Water Management: Drought, vegetation health, and soil moisture all can be tracked remotely. This Data Pathfinder provides links to NASA Earth observations, tools, and other resources applicable to agricultural production and water management.
  • Air Quality: Poor air quality is one of the largest global environmental and health threats. The resources available through this Data Pathfinder provide ways to forecast poor air quality, track trace gases, visualize air quality trends, and forecast the movement of pollutants.
  • Greenhouse Gases: Airborne, satellite, and ground-based instruments measure the composition of greenhouse gases, providing insight into how their composition is changing over time.This Data Pathfinder highlights data on carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapor.
  • Water Quality: Data collected remotely from sensors aboard satellites and aircraft or deployed in and under water are an important tool for addressing the need to better understand factors impacting water quality.
SDG 13: Climate Action

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Agriculture and Water Management: Drought, vegetation health, and soil moisture all can be tracked remotely. This Data Pathfinder provides links to NASA Earth observations, tools, and other resources applicable to agricultural production and water management.
  • Extreme Heat: Extreme heat events lasting a few days to weeks at a time are occurring more frequently in major cities across the world and can have detrimental impacts on public health. NASA data can help forecast and monitor these events.
  • Wildfires: Along with their destructive power, naturally-occurring wildfires are a vital component of forest growth, ecological succession, and soil nutrient enhancement. NASA provides datasets and tools for assessing and managing wildfires before, during, and after an event.
  • Greenhouse Gases: Airborne, satellite, and ground-based instruments measure the composition of greenhouse gases, providing insight into how their composition is changing over time.This Data Pathfinder highlights data on carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapor.
  • Sea Level Change: Global sea level has risen 8 to 9 inches since reliable record keeping began in 1880 and is projected to rise another 1 to 8 feet by 2100. This Data Pathfinder directs users to NASA datasets that can aid in tracking changes in glaciers and ice sheets, ocean processes, land water storage, and other factors contributing to changing sea levels.
SDG 14: Life Below Water

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Water Quality: Data collected remotely from sensors aboard satellites and aircraft or deployed in and under water are an important tool for addressing the need to better understand factors impacting water quality.
SDG 15: Life on Land

To explore NASA's data connections to this SDG, visit the following Data Pathfinders:

  • Agriculture and Water Management: Drought, vegetation health, and soil moisture all can be tracked remotely. This Data Pathfinder provides links to NASA Earth observations, tools, and other resources applicable to agricultural production and water management.
  • Air Quality: Poor air quality is one of the largest global environmental and health threats. The resources available through this Data Pathfinder provide ways to forecast poor air quality, track trace gases, visualize air quality trends, and forecast the movement of pollutants.
  • Extreme Heat: Extreme heat events lasting a few days to weeks at a time are occurring more frequently in major cities across the world and can have detrimental impacts on public health. NASA data can help forecast and monitor these events.

Resources

NASA Resources

External Resources