GfGD Contributes to the 2021 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
Following the establishment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, a UN forum meets annually to review progress. This year, GfGD has contributed to a report together with other science and engineering organisations, in which we advocate for governments to endorse the International Geodiversity Day.
We are pleased to announce our contribution to a report which sets out ways to advance progress on the SDGs throughout the Decade of Action while living with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our input (found on page 14) advocates for greater collaboration between Earth scientists, ecologists and health professionals, making clear the link between geodiversity and public health.
We also support the work of UNESCO Global Geoparks, and advocate for governments to endorse the creation of an International Geodiversity Day.
>>> Read the position paper in full here
Our message has been prepared for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which every year reviews progress towards the 2030 Agenda. The 2030 agenda was created in 2015 to set out a fifteen-year path to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year the HLPF convenes 6–15 July at the UN Headquarters in New York.
GfGD has contributed to a report which sets out the position of the Scientific and Technological Community Major Group, which is one of thirteen coalitions of individuals and organisations that coordinate the contributions of stakeholders in UN activities.
The Scientific and Technological Community Major Group is coordinated by the International Science Council and the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, thus bringing together a diverse community of natural scientists, social scientists, and engineers.
This group integrates scientific and technological information to indicate what is scientifically and technologically feasible with respect to solutions for sustainable development.
International Geodiversity Day
An International Geodiversity Day is proposed by a group of scientists (document here), and has been endorsed by many international geoscience organisations (including GfGD).
The proposal was approved at the 211th session of the UNESCO Executive Board in April 2021. The final decision will be made at the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference in November 2021, and if successful the first International Geodiversity Day will be held on 6 October 2022.