Vienna, Austria, 11 June 2026 — The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) joined international partners in supporting the launch of the online course Earth Observation for Sustainable Development: Harnessing the Power of Chinese Satellites during the 69th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) in Vienna.
Held at the Vienna International Centre alongside an APSCO Reception co-organized with the Delegation of the People’s Republic of China and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Türkiye, the launch brought together more than 100 participants from governments, international organizations and the space and sustainable development communities.
In a pre-recorded video message, Prof. Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, highlighted the growing importance of integrating Earth observation technologies into evidence-based decision-making for water management, environmental sustainability and public health.
“Integrating Earth observation technologies into decision-making for water, environment and public health has become increasingly important,” Prof. Madani noted, emphasizing the role of accessible geospatial knowledge in strengthening global capacity to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The newly launched course aims to enhance international capacity in the application of Earth observation data for sustainable development and resilience-building. Developed through international collaboration, the programme provides free access to training for practitioners, researchers, policymakers and postgraduate students working in remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), disaster management, water resources and environmental monitoring.
The curriculum includes four modules covering China’s Earth observation satellite systems and data access methods, optical satellite data processing and analysis, applications of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and case studies demonstrating how satellite data can support SDG implementation.
During the launch event, speakers highlighted the importance of international cooperation in expanding access to space-based technologies and strengthening technical expertise for sustainable development. Participants also emphasized the growing role of Earth observation data in disaster risk reduction, environmental monitoring and informed policymaking.
UNU-INWEH’s participation in this initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing science-based solutions and strengthening global knowledge and capacity for sustainable water, environmental and public health outcomes.
A networking reception following the launch provided opportunities for dialogue and future collaboration among participating institutions and experts.
