Global Initiative Launched in Beijing to Leverage Digital S&T for Sustainable Development

A global initiative calling for stronger international cooperation to advance sustainable development through digital science and technology was unveiled on Thursday at the "International Forum on Science for Sustainable Development," a parallel event of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum.   

Co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the forum brought together nearly 200 participants from international organizations, research institutions, and academia under the theme "Digital Technologies Driving Sustainable Development". The event is part of the UNESCO-led "International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033)."

Professor Guo Huadong, Director-General of the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) and an academician of CAS, noted that while the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has passed its halfway mark, progress remains insufficient. He underlined the critical role of digital technologies in transforming sustainability science, particularly through the recently launched Digital Sustainable Development Goals Programme (DSP), which was approved by UNESCO in February. The programme, initiated by CBAS with over 35 institutions from more than 20 countries, aims to build global digital infrastructure and foster innovation for monitoring the SDGs.

Guo also shared the updates on SDGSAT-1, the world's first scientific satellite dedicated to the SDGs. Operated by CBAS, the satellite has already shared over 420,000 scenes of data with users in 104 countries, contributing to global research on urban heat islands, carbon emissions, and more. "In the future, a constellation of SDGSAT satellites is expected to serve as an even sharper 'eye in space' for global sustainable development," Guo said.

A key outcome of the forum was the release of Beijing Initiative on Digital Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, presented by Johannes Cullmann, Scientific Advisor to the President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, on behalf of participants from 16 countries. The initiative outlines five action areas powered by digital innovation to tackle global sustainability challenges and foster international collaboration.

The forum underscored the vital role of science, data, and international partnership in delivering on the promise of the UN 2030 Agenda and shaping a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.

A scene of the international forum. (Image by AIR)