Methodology, Processing, and Application Development in Support of Sustainable Development Goal 14.1: Chlorophyll Global Analysis and Metrices

Abstract

Addressing the global nature of marine pollution needs tools to monitor and measure its extent in the ocean. With Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 target 14.1, the United Nations established a charge for countries to "by 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution". While In-situ measures of nutrient pollution would provide high-resolution data, not all countries have the capacity to provide this information. To address this gap, GEO Blue Planet, Esri and the UN Environment Programme have developed a GIS software methodology to report on SDG 14.1.1a - Index of Coastal Eutrophication. This collaboration includes the production of statistics for the global indicators for eutrophication so the data can be included in the 2021 SDG Progress report. Additionally, this collaboration is developing application dashboards on satellite-derived chlorophyll-a for countries to assist with the identification of potential eutrophication hot spots.