Resources
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UNESCO World Heritage sites: key to biodiversity conservation Year of publication: 2023 Corporate author: UNESCO 
Climate Change and Sustainability in Science and Social Science Secondary School Curricula Year of publication: 2024 Author: Marcia McKenzie | Aaron Benavot Corporate author: UNESCO There is an urgent need to transform the way climate change and sustainability are taught in classrooms and at schools. Learners must grasp the environmental impacts of climate change, how climate change relates to their own context and what actions can be undertaken and contribute to making societies more sustainable, equitable, just and climate-resilient. The findings presented in this publication indicate that accelerated efforts are needed. In a study of over 530 Grade 9 science and social science curricula from 85 countries worldwide, we found that 69 per cent of curricula contained no references to climate change, while 66 per cent had no references to sustainability. Furthermore, while 69 per cent of surveyed teachers from eight of the countries studied reported that environment, sustainability and climate change topics were included in the science and social science curricula in their schools only 50 per cent included them in their teaching. While there is a notable inclusion of environment, sustainability and climate change in science and social science curricula across countries, the depth of focus of this inclusion varies widely. Cognitive learning prevails over social and emotional or action-oriented learning. Climate change and sustainability in school practices must be strengthened, with teachers playing a key role in enhancing integration through teaching methods and materials. 
The Water, Energy, and Food Security Nexus in Asia and the Pacific: The Pacific Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | UNESCO Bangkok | UNESCO Jakarta Global climate targets and the call to action from the Pacific must be heeded while major environmental, societal and economical progress is needed in the region. Leadership from Pacific Island Countries and Territories needs to be supported with action and resourcing to meet both global net zero goals and regional SDGs. This volume applies the water, energy, and food security nexus approach solely in a Pacific context for the first time, bringing together the region’s 17 countries and 7 Territories. This approach improves the security of each sector and supports regional climate and environmental priorities. Effective intersectoral solutions exist with connectivity between the water-food and water-energy sectors of particular benefit. Traditional knowledge and crop production have historically and will continue to play a major role in food security and water resources management in the region. Increased energy demand needs to be met with increased renewables installation as well as new technologies that encompass storage and transport considerations. 
Enhancing Youth Participation in Urban Governance through City Youth Councils Year of publication: 2023 Corporate author: UNESCO City youth councils offer a formalized arrangement for continuous dialogue with policymakers. They have played a key role in fostering the next generation of leaders and encouraging youth to be contributors and agents to social change and dialogue. UNESCO is publishing this report to ensure that the actions and solutions proposed by youth can be applied and scaled up worldwide. It encourages local governments to create spaces for youth to participate actively and genuinely in decision-making processes. 
AI and the Holocaust: Rewriting History?; The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Understanding the Holocaust Year of publication: 2024 Author: Mykola Makhortykh | Heather Mann Corporate author: UNESCO The threats associated with AI on safeguarding the record of the Holocaust are manifold, including the potential for manipulation by malicious actors, the introduction of falsehoods or dissemination of biased information, and the gradual erosion of public trust in authentic records. This paper provides a warning of what is at stake for the preservation of historical truth in a digital era increasingly mediated by AI. It highlights five major concerns:1. AI automated content may invent facts about the Holocaust2. Falsifying historical evidence: Deepfake Technology3. AI models can be manipulated to spread hate speech4. Algorithmic bias can spread Holocaust denial5. Oversimplifying history While there are some benefits to be gained, such as enhanced engagement and interaction opportunities for learners, as well as more efficient data processing capabilities for researchers, to navigate these challenges and capitalize on the benefits, it’s essential for AI designers, policymakers, educators, and researchers to collaborate closely. Only AI systems equipped with robust safeguards and human rights assessments, coupled with an increased focus on developing digital literacy skills, can uphold the integrity of historical truth and ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence. 
Global Report on Early Childhood Care and Education: The Right to a Strong Foundation Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Inclusive and quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) are vital for promoting school readiness, foundational learning, and lifelong well-being. Yet almost 60% of children in low-income countries do not have access to early care and learning opportunities. To meet national targets of providing at least one year of organized learning before primary school, low-income and lower-middle-income countries must fill an annual financial gap of USD 21 billion and recruit at least six million more educators before 2030. The first global report, jointly published by UNESCO and UNICEF, offers insights into global and regional ECCE trends. The report, which is a key response to the commitments outlined in the Tashkent Declaration, synthesizes scientific evidence on ECCE’s importance, and exposes persistence gaps in policy and investment. It illustrates how countries have responded to providing equitable and quality ECCE opportunities. The report invites all stakeholders, from governments and policy-makers, to educators, parents and organizations, to ensure that the commitments made in the Tashkent Declaration are fully realized by building a strong foundation for every child. 
Global Report on Early Childhood Care and Education: The Right to a Strong Foundation; Key Highlights Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) This document is the key highlights of the Global Report on Early Childhood Care and Education: The Right to a Strong Foundation. Rapport mondial sur l’éducation et la protection de la petite enfance : le droit à une base solide; points saillants Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'éducation, la science et la culture (UNESCO) | United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Ce document présente les points clés du Rapport mondial sur l'éducation et la prise en charge de la petite enfance : Le droit à une base solide. 
The Price of Inaction: The Global Private, Fiscal and Social Costs of Children and Youth Not Learning Year of publication: 2024 Author: Giorgio Brunello | Lorenzo Rocco | Matthias Eck Corporate author: UNESCO | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) | Commonwealth Secretariat Despite efforts by countries, the number of out-of-school children remains significant, with 128 million boys and 122 million girls excluded from schooling. Educational skills deficits are also immense – 57 per cent of the world’s children have not gained basic skill levels. UNESCO, OECD and the Commonwealth Secretariat have developed the first global report to illustrate the monetary costs to economies around the world of leaving children and youth behind in education. Using available evidence, the report calculates the costs, globally and by region, of children and youth that are not in school or gaining basic skills. Calculations are also provided for twenty selected countries in which there are gender disparities in education at either girls’ or boys’ expense. If governments were to increase efforts so that every child was in school and achieving basic skills, the future world GDP would raise by more than US$6.5 trillion annually, not to mention eliminating the social costs of failure. This publication offers the evidence and insights that show that for economic development to accelerate, so must prioritizations and investments in education and gender-transformative action. 
[Summary] The Price of Inaction: The Global Private, Fiscal and Social Costs of Children and Youth Not Learning Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) | Commonwealth Secretariat Education is a fundamental human right for all. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on education has received considerable attention since its adoption in 2015. But more than halfway through the implementation period, achieving the ambitious agenda of inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030 remains a significant challenge for countries around the globe. As this report shows, the US$10 trillion social cost of failing to educate all the world’s children is just too high. This is the summary of The Price of Inaction: The Global Private, Fiscal and Social Costs of Children and Youth Not Learning.