GEOSAT becomes first European partner in SDG Data Alliance

GEOSAT, an operator of Earth observation satellites, has joined the SDG Data Alliance as the first European company. The alliance aims to mobilize data to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The partnership agreement was signed in New York during the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly. Through this membership, GEOSAT will provide Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery and data to over 3,000 islands across nearly 40 island nations, which are the alliance's focus countries. This initiative seeks to support informed decision-making in areas such as land management, agriculture, forestry, coastal monitoring, and emergency response.

GEOSAT brings operational experience as an established European operator, recognized by the European Commission and Copernicus. The company has previously contributed to Europe's satellite coverage and supported international disaster response efforts. GEOSAT also assisted in establishing the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) in 2023.

The collaboration aims to enable island nations to acquire capabilities they might otherwise struggle to secure independently. "Satellite imagery and space-based information are indispensable tools for supporting populations in adapting to climate change," said GEOSAT CEO Francisco Vilhena da Cunha. "By joining the SDG Data Alliance, GEOSAT commits to continuing its work to bring space to people, leveraging local knowledge and value chains for sustainable use of Earth observation for societal development."