LAHORE: (Friday, October 6, 2023): Punjab University Space Science’s Associate Professor and Co-PI of Remote Sensing GIS and Climatic Research Dr Khalid Mahmood hosted an international session on collaboration and linkages pertaining to earth observation during the 30th workshop titled ‘Space Technology for Socio-economic Benefits: Challenges and Capacity Building Opportunities for Emerging Space Nations’. The workshop was jointly organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Dr Khalid said that the session stands as a testament to the global commitment towards harnessing space technology for the larger benefit of humanity and the planet. He said that the workshop is another step forward in creating a more inclusive, cooperative and technologically advanced future for Earth Observation. According to Dr Khalid, the session was a confluence of thought leaders, experts, and policymakers from both developing and developed nations. He said that a special focus was accorded to the concerns faced by emerging space nations, which include but are not limited to data availability, processing limitations and the potential for international partnerships to address these issues. He said that one of the pivotal points of discussion revolved around the incapacity of undeveloped nations to process complex EO data. As climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue, the significance of leveraging earth observation data for effective decision-making can't be stressed enough, he added. Dr Khalid said that the collaborative nature of the discussions underscored the mutual benefits that can be derived from shared knowledge and resources. He said that the earth observation systems hold enormous potential for socio-economic development and collaborative efforts between nations can bridge the gaps in knowledge and resources, ensuring that every nation, regardless of its technological prowess, can benefit from the insights offered by these systems. He said that with climate change at the forefront of global challenges, the discussions also touched upon future collaborative perspectives to address its ramifications using earth observation data.