Goal 2: Ending Hunger

Satellite imagery can tell crop yield on a pixel by pixel basis – enabling farmers to better decide when to add water or fertilizer and when to harvest. By imaging the land using special spectral bands (such as near infra-red) we can develop a vegetation index that represents crop vigour and productivity. Agricultural land represents 37% of the land area of earth and satellites are uniquely capable of collecting this data across such a vast territory. For example, my own company, Planet, images the whole land mass of Earth daily to help with these efforts.

Goal 6: Clean Water

Satellite images enable broad and efficient monitoring of reservoir water levels, providing early warning of shortages and uniform data across different countries that share water sources, increasing transparency and consistency in water delivery.

Goal 13: Climate Action

Often the earliest and clearest indications of climate change can be observed in very remote regions of the world. Earth-observation satellites enable global monitoring of deforestation, pollution levels in bodies of water, status of ice caps and desertification, and enable early and immediate action to prevent these events.

Goal 14: Life Below Water

Satellites can help track and stop illegal fishing by pairing vessel Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders – which show the location of legal fishing vessels and are legally required to be switched on – with up-to-date satellite imagery, enabling the identification of vessels operating without AIS signals and which are more likely to be engaged in illegal fishing activity.

Goal 15: Life on Land

Satellites can help monitor and protect wildlife habitats by identifying indicators of impending development or destruction and alerting authorities to engage early and stop it.

Goals 3 and 4: Good Health and Well-being; and Quality Education

Just 50% of Earth’s 7.5 billion people have access to the internet. A global network of communications satellites, such as those being developed by SpaceX and OneWeb, could enable internet connectivity to a clear majority of people, especially those in remote regions where infrastructure and development is scarce. With access to the internet comes increased knowledge sharing, the benefits of the best doctors and teachers via tele-medicine and education, and greater communication.

It’s clear that satellites can help many of the Global Goals. Leaders in governments, at companies and NGOs should make maximum use of these tools in their investments and decision making to help us achieve the SDGs as fast as possible.