Earth Observation-Based Ecosystem Services Indicators for National and Subnational Reporting of the Sustainable Development Goals
Decision-making impacting sustainability occurs at national and subnational levels, highlighting the need for Earth observations (EO) and geospatial data for assessing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) at multiple spatial extents and scales. EnviroAtlas, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and partners, provides a collection of web-based, interactive maps of environmental and socio-economic data relevant to the SDGs. In particular, EnviroAtlas maps ecosystem services (ES) indicators at national, regional, and local extents that can contribute to targets set forth in numerous goals, such as SDG 6 for clean water, SDG 11 for sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 15 for life on land. Examples of EnviroAtlas indicators that provide a way to view spatial inequalities, help fill a gap in environmental indicators, and integrate socio-economic and environmental data for the SDGs are explored herein. EO data are essential for producing these indicators and informing planning and decision-making for the SDGs at subnational scales. The National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) is the basis for many EnviroAtlas maps at the national extent, while National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) imagery are used to classify Meter-scale Urban Land Cover (MULC) in select U.S. metro areas. These 30-meter and 1-meter land cover products are combined with demographic and other geospatial data to produce integrated indicators that can aide in target setting of the SDGs. At present, indicators are summarized to standard units such as subwatersheds, census tracts, and census block groups (CBG), but the use of EO data could allow users to summarize data by other boundaries based on their needs. Maps associated with specific goals and targets can be viewed from the online platform, accessed via web services, or downloaded by anyone with an internet browser. Though EnviroAtlas was created for the conterminous U.S., the methods for indicator creation are transferable, and the open-source code for the EnviroAtlas platform may serve as an example for other nations. Achieving the SDGs means assessing targets and decision-making outcomes at local, regional, and national levels using consistent and accurate data. Geospatial platforms, like EnviroAtlas, that provide open access to indicators based on EO data and allow for assessment at multiple extents and resolutions are critical to broadly addressing national to subnational SDG goals and targets.