Description
In this powerful opening address at Geospatial World Forum 2026, Aarti Holla Maini, Director of UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs), makes the case that geospatial capability is no longer a technical luxury — it is a foundation of modern sovereignty.
From flood mapping to food security, satellite data is already shaping how nations govern, grow, and protect their people. Yet the benefits remain deeply unequal. Some countries build sovereign space capabilities at speed. Others depend entirely on external data, platforms, and expertise.
Aarti calls for three urgent priorities: trusted data, inclusive capability, and international cooperation — and invites the global geospatial community to ensure that no country is left without the tools it needs to shape its own future.
#GeospatialWorldForum #GWF2026 #UNOOSA #SpaceForAll #EarthObservation #GeospatialTechnology #DataSovereignty #Sustainability #SpacePolicy #DigitalTwins