Contents Foreword i Preface v Executive Summary ix List of Cases on Big Earth Data for SDGs xv Chapter 1 Introduction Challenges to Implementing the SDGs / 2 Big Earth Data / 3 Big Earth Data in Support of SDGs / 4 Chapter 2 SDG 2 Zero Hunger Background / 8 Main Contributions / 10 Case Study / 11 The trend of under-f ive stunting in China / 11 Potential for sustainable cropland intensif ication in China / 17 Potential for improvement of the sustainability of crop production in China / 22 Monitoring and early warning of agri-product price volatility in China / 28 Summary / 34 Chapter 3 SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation Background / 38 Main Contributions / 39 Case Study / 41 Spatiotemporal patterns of water transparency in China’s lakes / 41 Water-use eff iciency and its change in China / 47 Evaluation of water stress in the Shule River Basin in Northwest China / 53 Changes in the spatiotemporal extent of China’s vegetated wetlands / 59 Spatial distribution and changes of aquatic vegetation and algae in typical lake ecosystems, China / 65 Comprehensive analysis of the sustainable development of water security in China / 71 Summary / 77 Chapter 4 SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities Background / 80 Main Contributions / 81 Case Study / 84 Estimates of population living in shantytowns as a percentage of main urban district residents in cities in China / 84 Proportion of the population with easy access to public transportation in China / 90 Monitoring and assessing urbanization progress in China / 96 Analysis of urban expansion and population growth in China / 104 Research on Sustainable Development Goals of UNESCO designated sites in China / 111 Monitoring of disaster loss reduction and promoting sustainable development in vulnerable areas in China / 119 Impact assessment of storm surge inundation in Shenzhen / 127 Monitoring and analyzing f ine particulate matter (PM2.5) in cities in China / 134 Assessment of urban public space in China / 139 Share of open public space area in cities in China / 148 Evaluation of the emergency response capacity for COVID-19 in Wuhan / 153 Xuzhou: A typical case of resource-exhausted cities and regional transformation routes / 167 Integrated assessment of SDG 11 indicators at the provincial scale in China / 180 Summary / 186 Chapter 5 SDG 13 Climate Action Background / 190 Main Contributions / 191 Case Study / 192 Intensity and frequency of extreme high-temperature events and heatwaves in China / 192 Predicting the impacts of future climate change on the phenology of major crops in China / 198 Reaction of glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to climate change / 203 Summary / 208 Chapter 6 SDG 14 Life below Water Background / 212 Main Contributions / 213 Case Study / 215 Distribution and variation of marine debris and microplastics in China’s coastal waters / 215 Distribution of metal pollutants in coastal areas of China: using bivalves as bio-indicators / 223 Ecosystem health assessment for typical bays in coastal China / 229 Risk assessment of harmful algal blooms in the Bohai Sea / 235 Monitoring changes in raft culture in China’s coastal waters / 242 Eutrophication, hypoxia, and acidif ication in China’s coastal waters / 247 Summary / 253 Chapter 7 SDG 15 Life on Land Background / 256 Main Contributions / 258 Case Study / 260 Forest type distribution along the Yangtze River basin, China / 260 Three conditions for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in China / 265 Proportion of important sites for terrestrial, freshwater, and mountain biodiversity that are covered by protected areas / 272 Suitability of no net loss as a wetland protection target / 277 Large-scale vegetation restoration and soil & water conservation in the Loess Plateau of China in the past 20 years / 282 Evaluating aeolian desertif ication processes and restoration in the semi-arid region and its surrounding areas of northern China / 288 Salinization development and countermeasures in the Yellow River Delta / 295 China’s plant diversity: risks and conservation strategies / 300 Spatiotemporal changes in plant diversity in grassland nature reserves in northern China / 305 Distribution and development of pinewood nematode disease in China / 311 Summary / 317 Chapter 8 Summary and Prospects / 320 References / 324 Acronyms / 344