PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
UNESCO Expert Meeting on Climate Change Education opens in Mauritius
Balaclava, Mauritius (PANA) - The three-day UNESCO Expert Meeting on Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development opened Wednesday at the Intercontinental Resort, Balaclava, northern Mauritius.
Speaking at the opening, Mauritian Education Minister Vasant Bunwaree said education for sustainable development paves the way towards an understanding of the issues that are impacting on planetary sustainability, while also fostering a scrutiny and understanding of the values of the society.
He said there was a time when societies viewed education from a restrictive perspective, as a conveyor belt of its values, norms and traditions with a view to safeguarding or preserving them.
''Today, however, our understanding of education is constantly punctuated by an awareness of newer realities and concerns that are more global and universal,'' he said.
Bunwaree said there is growing evidence that ''something is changing in our climate system'', adding; ''A routine analysis of data shows that the number of storms reaching the tropical cyclone status is on the rise in this part of the world.
''The frequency of extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and storms of tropical cyclone strength, has also increased significantly. Thus, increase in temperature, rise in sea level, deterioration in coastal conditions and reduction in water resources are risks that we are very much alive to as a Small Island Developing State.''
For his part, Mohamed Djelid, Director UNESCO Office in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, said that when one thinks of threats to peace and world security, they obviously think of terrorism.
''You know it very well that there are other threats and one of them is climate change,'' he said.
Unfortunately, he added, many African countries do not have the means to adapt or mitigate the effects of climate change on their populations.
Djelid said this needs a change in mentality and attitude.
''How to do it? This is the challenge. We can by educating the youth and encouraging them to study science so that they may contribute to the development of green technology,'' he said.
The recommendations from the meeting will serve as a contribution to the upcoming 18th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Qatar as well as the UNESCO World Conference Education for Sustainable Development scheduled in 2014 in Japan, organisers said.
-0- PANA NA/SEG 20Mar2013
Speaking at the opening, Mauritian Education Minister Vasant Bunwaree said education for sustainable development paves the way towards an understanding of the issues that are impacting on planetary sustainability, while also fostering a scrutiny and understanding of the values of the society.
He said there was a time when societies viewed education from a restrictive perspective, as a conveyor belt of its values, norms and traditions with a view to safeguarding or preserving them.
''Today, however, our understanding of education is constantly punctuated by an awareness of newer realities and concerns that are more global and universal,'' he said.
Bunwaree said there is growing evidence that ''something is changing in our climate system'', adding; ''A routine analysis of data shows that the number of storms reaching the tropical cyclone status is on the rise in this part of the world.
''The frequency of extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and storms of tropical cyclone strength, has also increased significantly. Thus, increase in temperature, rise in sea level, deterioration in coastal conditions and reduction in water resources are risks that we are very much alive to as a Small Island Developing State.''
For his part, Mohamed Djelid, Director UNESCO Office in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, said that when one thinks of threats to peace and world security, they obviously think of terrorism.
''You know it very well that there are other threats and one of them is climate change,'' he said.
Unfortunately, he added, many African countries do not have the means to adapt or mitigate the effects of climate change on their populations.
Djelid said this needs a change in mentality and attitude.
''How to do it? This is the challenge. We can by educating the youth and encouraging them to study science so that they may contribute to the development of green technology,'' he said.
The recommendations from the meeting will serve as a contribution to the upcoming 18th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Qatar as well as the UNESCO World Conference Education for Sustainable Development scheduled in 2014 in Japan, organisers said.
-0- PANA NA/SEG 20Mar2013
