Tag: UNESCO

UNESCO launches global eDNA project to study vulnerability of species to climate change at marine World Heritage sites

Stuart Mitchell

An ambitious project using cutting edge environmental DNA, known as eDNA, to understand the richness of biodiversity of UNESCO’s marine World Heritage sites launches today. It will involve the collection by scientists and local residents of genetic material from waste, mucus or the cells of fish from across select marine World Heritage sites, with the aim of monitoring fish, including species red-listed by the International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN). eDNA involves collecting and analyzing samples collected from the environment (soil, water, air) rather than an individual organism.  The two-year eDNA project will help measure the vulnerability of marine biodiversity to climate change and the impacts of that change on the distribution and migration patterns of marine life across marine World Heritage sites. Launched at the start of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable…

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Building a planet at peace with nature: UNESCO joins Minecraft’s latest challenge

Stuart Mitchell

UNESCO is joining Minecraft on the ‘Global Build Challenge 2021: Making Peace with Nature’, as part of its programme to engage students worldwide to address the urgent environmental crisis through education for sustainable development. The Global Build Challenge 2021 will run from 27 September to 19 November 2021 through the videogame Minecraft: Education Edition and allow students to learn about the Sustainable Development Goals, chat with different creatures living on our planet and explore how to shift lifestyles to start living sustainably. The challenge aims to trigger creative ideas on…

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UNESCO partners with UN Women on a black women, men and youth social justice and development programme

Stuart Mitchell

UNESCO has embarked on a partnership with UN Women to strengthen women-and youth owned businesses in the cultural and creative industries in the Caribbean sub-region, Latin America and Africa. The programme will also highlight Afro descendant women’s role and contribution to sustainable development through cultural exchanges, knowledge sharing and movement-building. The announcement of this initiative came as part of activities to launch UN Women’s new Global Black Women Programme where Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi moderated a panel discussion of black women creatives, entitled ‘”Ain’t I a Woman?  Black Women,…

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UNESCO reports persistent gender inequalities in cultural and creative industries

Stuart Mitchell

Gender & Creativity: Progress on the Precipice, a report launched by UNESCO, highlights the need for policy measures to reach gender parity in the cultural and creative industries, despite recent progress in promoting gender equality. The report explores existing, and at times widening, gender gaps in the field, notably in the context of COVID-19, and calls for a new commitment and transformative actions to promote gender equality. It also highlights innovative gender policies, measures and programmes from around the world that can serve as a model for policymakers. The digital divide…

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UNESCO and World Bank launch framework for action for creative cities’ recovery, development and economic growth

Stuart Mitchell

UNESCO and the World Bank have partnered for the first time in a joint initiative to enable the cultural and creative industries in cities as part of their recovery and development during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.  In their position paper published on 21 May, UNESCO and the World Bank present the Cities, Culture, and Creativity Framework for action for cities to be more creative by enabling sustainable ecosystems in which cultural and creative industries can attain their full potential to contribute to economic growth, urban vibrancy, social inclusion and innovation.…

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