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New Zealand, India, Ecuador and Colombia enhance their tsunami readiness

With sea level rise increasing the risk posed by tsunamis and other marine hazards countries around the globe are taking steps to protect their populations These efforts are coordinated through UNESCOs Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission IOCUNESCO

January 18, 2022

Act Now! A youth climate champion’s bold demand for climate action

Young and enthusiastic Eirini Stogioudi a foresterenvironmentalist from Greece was one of the young speakers at the Asterousia Hybrid University 2020 coorganised by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and MIOECSDE She was also a previous attendee at the 2019 summer university programme Eirini represented her country as the Greek UNESCO MAB Youth Delegate at the first ever UN Youth Climate Action Summit in 2019

ARTeSCIENZA: Climate Change, traditional knowledge and new technologies for cultural heritage protection

Climate change will have severe impacts across all human systems Cultural heritage is not immune and often more fragile hence the need for its protection and preservation Art history traditional knowledge and new technologies to protect cultural heritage and landscapes were the core themes for the webinar series ARTeSCIENZA Climate change ancient knowledge and new technologies in defense of cultural heritage organised by Senator Michela Montevecchi as a followup to the conference ARTeCLIMA between emergencies and protection of our Cultural Heritage

ARTeCLIMA: Cultural Heritage Conservation and Protection in the wake of Climate Change

Natural disasters represent a major threat to cultural heritage Floods earthquakes fires environmental fatigue and similar longterm climate effects often cause irreversible damage or completely destroy both movable and immovable heritage assets Many objects can be further negatively impacted by inadequate emergency interventions The conference titled ARTeCLIMA between Emergencies and Protection of our Cultural Heritage took place at the Senate of the Italian Republic in Rome on 22 September 2020 on the International Day of Peace to discuss the implications of climate change on cultural heritage

October 21, 2020

Towards The Generation Ocean, united to create the ocean we need for the future we want

Nutrition oxygen energy work health everything that allows us to live is linked to the ocean To promote greater knowledge conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources the United Nations declared 20212030 Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development The Decade aims to mobilise the scientific community policymakers business and civil society around a collaborative research and technological innovation programme It will enable the coordination of research programmes observation systems capacity building maritime spatial planning and marine risk reduction to improve the management of ocean and coastal zone resources The Decade of Ocean Sciences should accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 SDG14 for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean seas and marine resources

October 21, 2020

Ocean Literacy for All. Launch of the toolkit in Italy

Ocean Literacy for All A toolkit the twovolume manual was jointly produced in 2017 by UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission IOC of UNESCO as a result of joint work and contributions by members of the global partnership led by IOC The toolkit was officially launched in Italy on 22 September 2020 by the Italian Ministry of the Environment Land and Sea the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and the Italian National Commission for UNESCO

October 14, 2020

Released Ocean Literacy for All Toolkit in Italian on World Oceans Day

The ocean is a source of food energy raw materials minerals and more and more frequently innovative drugs And not only does it regulate the earth climate but it also hosts the greatest diversity of living beings and ecosystems while providing economic social and aesthetic services to all humanity Knowing and understanding the influence of the ocean on us and our influence on the ocean becomes hence fundamental for living and acting in a sustainable way This is the essence of Ocean Literacy

COVID-19: the ocean, an ally against the virus

When we think of public health risks we may not think of the ocean as a factor Increasingly however the health of the ocean is intimately tied to our health Some may be surprised to read that organisms discovered at extreme depths are used to speed up the detection of COVID19 and probably even more to learn that it is the environment to could give a solution to humankind

The future of South-East Europe and the Mediterranean in the context of climate change: a UNESCO perspective

Without action the worlds average surface temperature is likely to surpass 3°C this century Around the world people are experiencing both the subtle and stark effects of climate change Gradually shifting weather patterns rising sea levels and more extreme weather events are all clear and devastating evidence of a rapidly changing climate The symposium convened by UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe on 68 November 2019 in Venice Italy will gather international expertise to contribute to a climate resilient SouthEast Europe and Mediterranean population living near the coast Today climate change is affecting every country on every continent It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives costing people communities and countries dearly every day and even more tomorrow Weather patterns are changing sea levels are rising weather events are becoming more extreme and greenhouse gas emissions are now at their highest levels in history The world is in a race to limit climate change In this regard SDG13 calls for actions through strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity mainstreaming it into policies and capacity building In September the 2019 Climate Action Summit showcased UNs pledge to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement In the face of worsening climate crisis the summit has delivered new pathways and practical actions to shift global response into higher gear As we all recognize that time is running out youth leaders warn we will be watching Growing is recognition that the pace of climate action must be rapidly accelerated Climate change is the defining issue of our time time and we are at a defining moment remarked UN SecretaryGeneral There is still time to tackle climate change but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society Climate change has longterm effects and it is composed of multidimensional challenges Keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C and limit the increase to 15°C as set in the Paris Agreement will require mobilization of all actors across society countries regions cities companies investors and other organizations working collaboratively towards reducing emissions to net zero by 2050 A crossgenerational approach to climate change will be essential to give youth a chance to determine their future It is crucial that action is taken to combat climate change and its impacts also in the Mediterranean a region that has already experienced an increase in average temperature by 14 °C since the preindustrial era 04 °C more than the global average As seen last summer Europe and the Mediterranean coastal areas suffer from an increasingly warming and drying climate causing already loss of life and disruptions throughout the region The weather will increase impacts in the region from heatrelated mortality water restrictions habitat loss energy demand for cooling and forest fires In this context UNESCO has been working closely with Member States to study the effects of climate change on UNESCO sites such as biosphere reserves geoparks and World Heritage properties and discover ways for sites to best adapt to climate change and to the multiplication of extreme weather patterns During the UNESCO Regional symposium discussions will dive into how climate change is affecting the region notably its water resources and the sea Ultimately the overall aim will be to contribute to a more climateresilient Mediterranean The symposium will explore how UNESCO can more effectively work with UNESCO designated sites emblematic both in terms of nature and culture in the region to increase their resilience to climate change and extreme events Scientists universities and research institutions site managers education specialists local and national authorities as well as youth climate change advocates will come together to exchange ideas and explore how UNESCO can through its programmes and sites make a strong contribution to the regions climate resilience The symposium will welcome 55 participants from the Mediterranean and SouthEast Europe region including 13 youth activists 29 experts and scientists and 13 site managers from 11 UNESCO sites In particular in attendance will be Italian young activist Federica Gasbarro The symposium is an opportunity to involve youth and youth climate advocates to ensure that those making up a quarter of the worlds population and representing the future of the planet have a voice in UNESCO deliberations on climate change emphasizes Ana Luiza Massot ThompsonFlores Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe The symposium will allow to define common lines of work and strategies and initiate discussions on possible project proposals to address the adverse effects of climate change on UNESCO designated sites The event will close with a plenary presentation and discussion of a regional climate change strategy and project ideas with a broader group including local and national authorities

October 29, 2019

Ocean Literacy for All, a manual for change in a changing blue planet

December 1, 2017

Global ocean science education: how we can work together to face the challenges of our oceans

UNESCO joins forces for integrated management of the Ecuadorian coast