Report on the Launch of the Digital Service for the Planet (DSP) Initiative

Introduction: A Strategic Partnership for Global Goals

A new collaborative initiative, the Digital Service for the Planet (DSP), has been launched by New America’s Technology and Democracy programs, New America’s New Practice Lab, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). This pilot program is designed to enhance governmental use of technology and data to address critical environmental priorities. The formation of this partnership directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by uniting expertise in technology, public service delivery, and environmental policy to accelerate progress.

Core Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The primary objective of the DSP initiative is to bridge persistent gaps in data infrastructure and technology that hinder the effective management and protection of natural resources. The initiative’s work is directly aligned with several key SDGs:

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Improving the analysis, monitoring, and protection of drinking water resources.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Facilitating the delivery of clean energy priorities through improved data systems.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Building climate resilience and developing technological solutions for challenges like wildfires.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water) & SDG 15 (Life on Land): Enhancing the stewardship of critical ecosystems, including wetlands and forests.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Strengthening the capacity of government institutions to implement environmental policy and deliver services effectively.

Operational Framework and Methodology

The DSP initiative will function as an incubator for digital solutions and new strategies to achieve environmental progress at scale. It will prototype a digital services model focused on redesigning how government agencies build technical teams and data systems. The initial phase of work will proceed as follows:

1. Map existing barriers and opportunities at the intersection of climate and public health.
2. Focus on a core set of environmental priorities with significant SDG implications.
3. Conduct in-depth analysis and solution design for three key areas: drinking water, wetlands, and forests.

Inaugural Cohort of DSP Fellows

A multidisciplinary cohort of DSP Fellows, comprising technologists, former public servants, and domain experts, will lead the project’s work. The inaugural fellows bring expertise directly relevant to achieving the SDGs:

• Kameron Kerger, Services and Systems Designer: Experience in environmental justice and technology, including the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, contributing to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16.
• Boon Sheridan, Permitting Technology Lead: Focus on federal permitting innovation and climate-related projects, advancing SDG 13 and the infrastructure for SDG 7.
• EmmaLi Tsai, Data Scientist: Expertise in coastal wetland transformation and conservation research, supporting SDG 14 and SDG 15.
• JR Washebek, Fellow for AI and Ecosystem Management: Work on the intersection of AI and forestry, contributing to innovation in support of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 15.
• Gabriel Watson, Data Science and Applications Lead: Focus on developing technology and data applications that advance environmental justice, directly supporting SDG 10 and SDG 16.

Strategic Outlook and Expected Impact

The DSP initiative represents a timely contribution to environmental innovation. By leveraging public interest technology, the project aims to create a more effective blueprint for confronting modern environmental challenges. The collaboration is expected to produce scalable models that improve government service delivery and accelerate progress toward a resilient and sustainable future, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Article

   The article on the Digital Service for the Planet (DSP) initiative addresses several Sustainable Development Goals by focusing on the use of technology and data to solve pressing environmental challenges. The following SDGs are directly connected to the issues highlighted:

   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The initiative explicitly aims to improve the analysis, monitoring, and protection of “drinking water.”
   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article mentions that the DSP initiative will help deliver on urgent priorities like “clean energy.”
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The core of the initiative is to address “persistent gaps in data infrastructure and technology” and to incubate “digital tools, data,” and a new “digital services model,” which directly relates to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.
   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The initiative’s focus on “climate resilience” for “communities” and the mention of tools like the “Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)” connect to making human settlements resilient and sustainable.
   • SDG 13: Climate Action: The article highlights the goal of improving “climate resilience” and addressing challenges like “wildfires,” which are key components of climate action.
   • SDG 15: Life on Land: The protection and stewardship of “wetlands, and forests” are stated as primary focus areas for the DSP Fellows, directly aligning with this goal.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The entire initiative is a “cross-sector partnership” between New America, the New Practice Lab, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), demonstrating a collaborative approach to achieving environmental goals.

2. Specific Targets Identified

   Based on the article’s content, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

     • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. The article’s focus on protecting “drinking water, wetlands” and the work of a fellow on “coastal wetland transformation” directly supports this target.

   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

     • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The initiative aims to close “implementation gaps” and deliver on “clean energy” priorities, which implies facilitating the growth of renewable energy.

   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

     • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… The initiative’s goal to close “gaps in data infrastructure and technology” is a direct effort to improve this specific type of infrastructure for environmental management.

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

     • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction and resilience to disasters. The focus on “climate resilience” for “communities” and tools like the “Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool” align with implementing plans for resilience.

   • SDG 13: Climate Action

     • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The initiative’s work on “climate resilience” and “wildfires” directly contributes to this target by improving the technological capacity to manage these hazards.

   • SDG 15: Life on Land

     • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands… The article explicitly states that the first stage of work will map barriers and opportunities across “wetlands, and forests.”
     • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation… The work of a fellow who built the U.S. Forest Service’s “first comprehensive AI program” is aimed at improving the stewardship and management of forests.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The DSP initiative itself, being a collaboration between New America, the New Practice Lab, and EPIC, is a direct example of such a partnership.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

   The article, being an announcement of an initiative, implies the creation of systems for measurement rather than reporting on existing metrics. The following indicators are implied by the tools and data systems the DSP initiative aims to develop:

   • Implied Indicators for SDG 6 and 15

     • The development of data systems to “analyze, monitor, and protect key resources—like drinking water, wetlands, and forests” implies the creation of metrics to track the health and extent of these ecosystems, which relates to Indicator 15.1.1 (Forest area as a proportion of total land area) and Indicator 6.6.1 (Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time). The work of fellows on “coastal wetland transformation” and supporting “watershed organizations” suggests a focus on creating these data-driven indicators.

   • Implied Indicators for SDG 13 and 15

     • The development of an “AI program” for the U.S. Forest Service and a focus on “wildfire” prevention implies the creation of advanced monitoring tools. These tools would generate data that could serve as indicators for progress in sustainable forest management (related to Indicator 15.2.1) and strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards (related to Indicator 13.1.2).

   • Implied Indicators for SDG 9 and 11

     • The creation of the “Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)” is a tangible output that serves as an indicator of progress. It is a tool designed to guide policy and investment, directly relating to the implementation of national disaster risk reduction strategies (Indicator 11.b.2) and upgrading technological capabilities.

   • Implied Indicators for SDG 17

     • The formation of the “Digital Service for the Planet (DSP) initiative” and its “multidisciplinary cohort of DSP Fellows” from different organizations is a direct, tangible indicator of a multi-stakeholder partnership being established to support sustainable development goals, which aligns with the spirit of Indicator 17.17.1 (Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships).

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Implied from the Article)
   SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems.	Development of data systems to monitor and analyze drinking water resources and the extent of coastal wetland transformation.
   SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy.	Creation of tools and strategies to close implementation gaps for clean energy priorities.
   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.	The creation of a new “digital services model” and digital tools to close gaps in government data infrastructure.
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.b: Implement integrated policies and plans for resilience to disasters.	The development and use of tools like the “Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)” to build community resilience.
   SDG 13: Climate Action	13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.	Development of technology and data systems to improve response to climate challenges like wildfires and enhance overall climate resilience.
   SDG 15: Life on Land	15.1: Conserve and restore terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems (forests, wetlands). 15.2: Promote sustainable management of all types of forests.	Development of AI programs and data systems for monitoring and stewarding forests and wetlands.
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.	The establishment of the DSP initiative itself as a cross-sector partnership between New America, EPIC, and the New Practice Lab.

Source: newamerica.org