Seeing the UN Sustainable Development Goals through Maps

Abstract. Purpose: In this presentation, we announce a book project to map the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The book project is a collaboration between the UN Cartographic Unit, Geospatial Information Section, and the International Cartographic Association (ICA), with layout and production completed by the University of Wisconsin Cartography Lab. The book provides a visual primer on basic and advanced cartographic design principles, demonstrating the power of mapping to engage with persistent social, economic, and environmental inequities while also illustrating the potential of maps to mislead and therefore reinforce these inequities. Target audiences include: policymakers and researchers collecting geospatial information on SDG indicators to improve data policy and products; analysts and designers utilizing geospatial information to improve maps and graphics of the SDGs; and the general public to promote awareness and dialogue about the most pressing challenges facing our planet. In the following, we describe background on the SDGs, book organization, and development process.