UNESCO's side event at the High-Level Political Forum 2021 showcased solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, using on concrete examples from from UNESCO's unique global network of designated sites, which are important models for building resilience to climate change and reconciling people and nature. The event on 6 July 2021 was opened and moderated by Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences. She shared a message from Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the relevant activities of more than 2,000 UNESCO designated sites to promote sustainable solutions. The UNESCO global network of sites covers 6% of the Earth's landmass and comprises 1,121 World Heritage Sites, 714 Biosphere Reserves and 169 UNESCO Global Geoparks distributed all over the world.
Rather than only having 30% of the Earth Surface protected by 2030, why not having 100% responsible people? This is the aim, all of us, 100% responsible for the ocean, for the Earth and for the life on Earth. We need to take science-based actions into play at all levels.
Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences
