UNESCO
UNESCO is a international organization that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
UNESCO new report: Water crises threaten world peace
The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, highlights that tensions over water are exacerbating conflicts worldwide. To preserve peace, States must boost international cooperation and transboundary agreements.
UNESCO finds that some iconic World Heritage glaciers will disappear by 2050
New UNESCO data highlight the accelerated melting of glaciers in World Heritage sites, with glaciers in a third of sites set to disappear by 2050. But it is still possible to save the other two thirds, if the rise in global temperatures does not exceed 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial period. This will be a major challenge for COP27.
New report: Is the solution to water crises hiding right under our feet?
Groundwater accounts for 99% of all liquid freshwater on Earth. However, this natural resource is often poorly understood and consequently undervalued, mismanaged and even abused. According to the latest edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report published by UNESCO, the vast potential of groundwater, and the need to manage it sustainably, can no longer be overlooked.
UNESCO’s role in response to the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in the Caribbean
The active La Soufrière volcano, located in the Caribbean Sea within the country of St Vincent and the Grenadines, erupted last April for the first time in 40 years, sending an ash cloud 10 km into the sky. At more than 1,200 metres high, the volcano generated an intense ash shower in the surrounding area, […]
Richard Connor (UNESCO): “The term ‘water’ is completely absent from the Paris Agreement”
Each year, to celebrate World Water Day, held annually on March 22, UNESCO launches the World Water Development Report (WWDR) on behalf of UN-Water. Entitled ‘Water and Climate Change,’ this year’s report focuses on helping the water sector find the most efficient ways to combat the challenges of global warming. The report also highlights the […]
Using drones to reduce impacts of floods in The Gambia
The Gambia is taking action on climate change adaptation, addressing its vulnerability to flood disaster risks by establishing a state-of-the-art, end-to-end early warning system. UNESCO is providing technical expertise to develop the system, which will benefit from the latest technologies, such as drones, as well as strengthened coordination and communication networks based on local knowledge […]
UNESCO calls for a paradigm shift towards water security for sustainable peace
How we manage water, bond of life and fragile resource, will define our success in achieving all goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Access to water is critical to poverty reduction and human health, impacts gender equality, education, and all human activities. Ecosystems and biodiversity depend on water, it provides three-quarters of the […]
First UNESCO International Conference on Water
Opening of the first UNESCO International Water Conference on May 13 at 9:30 am, by Audrey Azoulay in the presence of some forty ministers.
“The unsustainability of current water management practices warrants a collective change”
As part of our cycle of interviews to celebrate the World Water Day, we interview Dr. Stefan Uhlenbrook, Coordinator of the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), to get an in depth understanding of the United Nations’ observance day and the actions carried out by this intergovernmental organization to advocate for the Sustainable Development Goal […]