From ‘Water Terrorist’ to ‘Nobel Prize of Water’: Exiled UN Scientist Named 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate

In a special ceremony at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to mark World Water Day, Professor Kaveh Madani of Iran, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), was named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize recipient, to be officially presented by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in August 2026, during World Water Week in Stockholm. The Stockholm Water Prize is the ultimate global recognition for extraordinary achievements in water-related activities. Often described as the “Nobel Prize of Water,” it is the most prestigious…

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Global water crisis aggravated by gender inequalities according to new UN Report

Despite decades of progress, inequalities continue to compromise global water security, disproportionally impacting women and girls, who despite of being the main collectors of water, continue to be excluded from water management and leadership roles. This is the conclusion of the United Nations World Water Development Report, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water. The report reveals that women are responsible for collecting water in over 70% of unserved rural households. Ensuring women’s participation in water management and governance is a key driver for progress and sustainable development. We must…

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UNESCO launches a global course to safeguard cultural property from illicit trafficking

Cultural heritage is far more than art or archaeology; it tells the story of who we are. When cultural property is stolen, looted, or trafficked, entire communities lose pieces of their identity, history, and future. Illicit trafficking often begins with theft or illegal excavations, crimes that not only damage the objects themselves but also erase the scientific, historical, and emotional knowledge they carry.  Protecting cultural property is, therefore, not only about preserving beautiful objects – it is about safeguarding the knowledge, values, and creativity of past civilisations whose legacy shapes…

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UNESCO report: Major blind spot in ocean carbon research could undermine global climate predictions

A new report by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO reveals a critical lack of understanding of how the ocean absorbs and stores carbon. This glaring uncertainty about our planet’s largest carbon sink threatens to skew current climate predictions, and hamper our ability to develop effective mitigation and adaptation strategies in the coming decades. The report also lays out a roadmap to bolster international cooperation, strengthen ocean carbon monitoring and update climate models accordingly. The ocean is one of our strongest climate allies, absorbing a large share of the…

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Creators face projected global revenue losses of up to 24% by 2028, new UNESCO report shows

UNESCO has just launched the latest edition of its flagship report Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity, which analyses a rapidly evolving cultural landscape shaped by digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), shifting global trade dynamics, and mounting threats to artistic freedom. A global monitoring report with data from over 120 countries, it points out the need for stronger policies to protect creators from widening inequalities. UNESCO’s Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity, a decade‑long global benchmark, calls for renewed and strengthened support for artists and cultural professionals as AI and digital transformations reshape the…

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