On October 25, József Benedek, professor at the Metropolitan University Budapest and director of the Research Centre for Sustainable Development at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania, gave a presentation at the Central European University. The event, part of OSUN's Network Collaborative Course "Introduction to Geospatial Data Visualization", centered on the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and showcased different methodologies for measuring these global objectives at the local level.
During the lecture, Professor Benedek outlined an integrative approach that combines statistical data, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and remote sensing technology. This set of tools allows for an assessment of SDGs within specific territories. It was highlighted that measuring these goals within local contexts can often differ significantly from national or global levels.
Two case studies were presented: the development and analysis of SDG indexes and dashboards to measure sustainable development progress, and the localization of SDG 11, which focuses on sustainable cities and communities. The talk shed light on how innovative methodologies can bridge the gap between local and global sustainability goals.