The Highlights Archive | Science for a Sustainable Future

Science for a Sustainable Future

Creating knowledge and understanding through science equips us to find solutions to today’s acute economic, social and environmental challenges and to achieving sustainable development and greener societies. As no one country can achieve sustainable development alone, international scientific cooperation contributes, not only to scientific knowledge but also to building peace.

UNESCO works to assist countries to invest in science, technology and innovation (STI), to develop national science policies, to reform their science systems and to build capacity to monitor and evaluate performance through STI indicators and statistics taking into account the broad range of country-specific contexts.

Science policies are not enough. Science and engineering education at all levels and capacity need to be built to allow countries to develop their own solutions to their specific problems and to play their part in the international scientific and technological arena.

Linking science to society, public understanding of science and the participation of citizens in science are essential to creating societies where people have the necessary knowledge to make professional, personal and political choices, and to participate in the stimulating world of discovery. Indigenous knowledge systems developed with long and close interaction with nature, complement knowledge systems based on modern science.

Science and technology empower societies and citizens but also involve ethical choices. UNESCO works with its member States to foster informed decisions about the use of science and technology, in particular in the field of bioethics.

Water is fundamental for life and ensuring water security for communities worldwide is essential to peace and sustainable development. The scientific understanding of the water cycle, the distribution and characteristics of surface and groundwater, of urban water all contribute to the wise management of freshwater for a healthy environment and to respond to human needs.

Scientific knowledge of the Earth’s history and mineral resources, knowledge of ecosystems and biodiversity, and the interaction of humans with ecosystems are important to help us understand how to manage our planet for a peaceful and sustainable future. Global environmental change has profound social and human dimensions. Over 30 UNESCO programmes in ocean and natural sciences, education, culture and communication contribute to creating knowledge, educating and communicating about climate change, and to understanding the ethical implications for present and future generations.

Disaster risk reduction

21 July 2017	Mobilizing UNESCO Chairs in the Natural Sciences for Policy Action towards the 2030 Agenda
16 June 2017	Altyn Emel and Karatau are included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves
2 June 2017	5 June - World Environment Day
21 April 2017	UN World Water Development Report 2017: launch in Central Asia
3 April 2017	Kazakhstan Places Priority on Partnership with UNESCO for Peace and Security
23 March 2017	UN World Water Development Report 2017 “Wastewater: The Untapped Resource”
13 March 2017	Moving Forward with Education 2030: Central Asian states focus on strengthening education policy and cooperation
6 March 2017	UNESCO Almaty Office participates in the meeting of the International Consortium on Landslides
2 March 2017	Kazakhstan ratified the Agreement on the Establishment of a Central-Asian Regional Glaciological Centre in Almaty
28 February 2017	National Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks is established in Kazakhstan
22 February 2017	3rd meeting of international participants of EXPO-2017
9 February 2017	11 February: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
29 November 2016	New UNESCO Water Chair is established in Almaty
18 November 2016	The results of the regional seminar on Glaciers Melting in Central Asia are summarized
2 November 2016	Glaciers melting in Central Asia to be discussed in Bishkek

Science for a Sustainable Future

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