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

29 April 2019	Call for applications: UNESCO Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Conservation
12 April 2019	Nationalization of Sustainable Development Goal 4 Indicators in Tajikistan
28 March 2019	Youth contributes to Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia
26 March 2019	UNESCO-designated sites: focus on Almaty region
20 March 2019	Young scientists for disaster risk reduction in the region
18 March 2019	Billions deprived of the right to water
25 February 2019	UNESCO raises awareness of UNESCO-designated sites in Zhambyl Region
18 February 2019	UNESCO introduced schoolgirls to the world of science
13 February 2019	UNESCO Regional Workshop on preparedness for disasters in Central Asia
5 February 2019	11 February: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
29 January 2019	The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements: a window on the universe
28 December 2018	Almaty Office participates in the Regional Consultative Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies
11 December 2018	Launch of the UNESCO Global Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Instruments platform
30 November 2018	UNESCO promotes water diplomacy in Central Asia
10 November 2018	Science, a Human Right: World Science Day for Peace and Development

Science for a Sustainable Future

Search the Highlights Archive