Tag: UNESCO

Community-Led Co-Creation Advances Sustainable Tourism in Eswatini’s Matsanjeni Cultural Landscape

Stuart Mitchell

Communities in Eswatini are taking the lead in shaping the future of sustainable tourism in the Matsanjeni Cultural Landscape, following a high-level national work planning session convened by UNESCO, the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), and the National Commission for UNESCO (NatCom) from 25 to 26 March 2026. The two-day session brought together traditional leaders, government institutions, and cultural stakeholders to agree on concrete actions that will guide the development of culture and heritage-based tourism in Matsanjeni North Inkundla. Moving beyond dialogue to action, the session was designed as a…

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

Stuart Mitchell

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

Stuart Mitchell

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

Stuart Mitchell

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

Stuart Mitchell

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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