UNESCO’s climate change related activities and plans in Education, Science & Culture in the Arab Region with a notion on the importance of tourism

by Benno Böer by Benno Böer

UNDP Arab Climate Resilience Initiative

Conrad Hotel, 20-21Conrad Hotel, 20-21stst of September 2010 of September 2010

The impacts of climate change on sea level rise, coastal erosion, biodiversity and economic and human development

Presentation:

1.1.Examples of socio-economic risk of climate change in the Examples of socio-economic risk of climate change in the

Arab StatesArab States

2.2.UNESCO’s conservation flagships: World Heritage UNESCO’s conservation flagships: World Heritage

Convention, the Global Network of Biosphere Reserves, the Convention, the Global Network of Biosphere Reserves, the

Quranic Botanic Garden networkQuranic Botanic Garden network

3.3.Urban ecosystem enhancement and EcoschoolsUrban ecosystem enhancement and Ecoschools

4.4.A proposal and outlook for UN cooperationA proposal and outlook for UN cooperation

5.5.UNESCO’s strategic objectivesUNESCO’s strategic objectives

The impacts of climate change on sea level rise, coastal erosion, biodiversity and economic and human development

Examples of socio-economic risk of climate change in the Arab StatesExamples of socio-economic risk of climate change in the Arab States

Difficult to estimate $ figuresDifficult to estimate $ figures

•Case-study: Tropical Cyclone Gonu, Oman 2007Case-study: Tropical Cyclone Gonu, Oman 2007

•World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves attract 10 x more tourists than other World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves attract 10 x more tourists than other

sites – if damaged by abrasion, frost, flooding, salt spray etc.: great economic sites – if damaged by abrasion, frost, flooding, salt spray etc.: great economic

loss, due to loss of tourism revenues, loss of jobs and income. loss, due to loss of tourism revenues, loss of jobs and income.

•Agriculture, fisheries & water will be impacted by climate and sea-level Agriculture, fisheries & water will be impacted by climate and sea-level

changechange

•Biodiversity will be impacted by climate change, especially coral reefBiodiversity will be impacted by climate change, especially coral reef

The impacts of climate change on sea level rise, coastal erosion, biodiversity and economic and human development

Case-study: Tropical Cyclone Gonu, Oman 2007Case-study: Tropical Cyclone Gonu, Oman 2007

>50 human lifes lost>50 human lifes lost

>1,5 billion US$ physical damage>1,5 billion US$ physical damage

5The seawater rose > 1 m above high tide mark – horizontal intrusion: several kilometers

Khor al Udayd on the 8th of June 2007, one day after Cyclone Gonu

Was Gonu caused by climate change ? We don’t know.

Did Gonu impact Qatar ? Most likely yes. This area is used by hundreds of tourists on a weekly basis. Damage can not be estimated.

The impacts of climate change on sea level rise, coastal erosion, biodiversity and economic and human development

The impacts of climate change on sea level rise, coastal erosion, biodiversity and economic and human development

UNESCO’s conservation flagships UNESCO’s conservation flagships

•World Heritage Sites – areas of globally unique value for World Heritage Sites – areas of globally unique value for

mankind: mankind: Algeria 7, Bahrain 1, Egypt 7, Iraq 3, Jerusalem 1, Jordan 3, Lebanon 5, Libya 5, Algeria 7, Bahrain 1, Egypt 7, Iraq 3, Jerusalem 1, Jordan 3, Lebanon 5, Libya 5,

Mauretania 2, Morocco 8, Oman 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sudan 1, Syria 5, Tunisia 8, Yemen 3 – total: 64. Mauretania 2, Morocco 8, Oman 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sudan 1, Syria 5, Tunisia 8, Yemen 3 – total: 64.

•Biosphere Reserves – characteristic landscapes as models for Biosphere Reserves – characteristic landscapes as models for

sustainable human living, sustainable development & nature sustainable human living, sustainable development & nature

conservation: conservation: United Arab Emirates 1, Algeria 6, Egypt 2, Jordan 1, Lebanon 3, Qatar 1, Sudan United Arab Emirates 1, Algeria 6, Egypt 2, Jordan 1, Lebanon 3, Qatar 1, Sudan

2, Syria 1, Tunisia 4, Yemen 1, and cross-border reserves between Mauretania & Senegal 1 – total: 23. 2, Syria 1, Tunisia 4, Yemen 1, and cross-border reserves between Mauretania & Senegal 1 – total: 23.

•Quranic Botanic Gardens – centres of excellence for botanic Quranic Botanic Gardens – centres of excellence for botanic

education, research and conservation: education, research and conservation: United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) 1, Qatar United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) 1, Qatar

1. 1.

(Climate change induced damage can not be estimated, and it would need exact scientific research)(Climate change induced damage can not be estimated, and it would need exact scientific research)

7

Khor al Udayd potential World Natural SiteKhor al Udayd potential World Natural SiteKhor al Udayd (Qatar) potential World Natural Heritage Site

Success 1: Site survey completed in 2005 (marine biology, terrestrial ecology, eco-tourism) supported by many companies from the private sector

Success 2: Nomination file developed in 2007

Success 3: Tentative list for Qatar developed and submitted and accepted in 2007 and 2008(Sealevel change will inevitably impact on tourism)

8

New Biosphere Reserves, Qatar & UAENew Biosphere Reserves, Qatar & UAE

Biosphere Reserves are good places for tourism and climate change research and monitoring

9

Scientific research related to Arabian ecosystemsScientific research related to Arabian ecosystems

Intact ecosystems including biodiversity and water are essential for tourism development

10

Biodiversity lossQuranic Botanic Gardens are Centres of Excellence for biodiversity education, research, conservation & recreation.

Example how biodiversity conservation can boost tourism

The impacts of climate change on sea level rise, coastal erosion, biodiversity and economic and human development

Urban ecosystem enhancement and Ecoschools Urban ecosystem enhancement and Ecoschools

(Science & Education)(Science & Education)

•Doha Green ConferenceDoha Green Conference

•EcoschoolsEcoschools

Ecoschools can contribute to education towards responsible tourism

The impacts of climate change on sea level rise, coastal erosion, biodiversity and economic and human development

A UNESCO proposal in the making (Education, Science & A UNESCO proposal in the making (Education, Science &

Culture)Culture)

North African – Arab – Central Asian Dry Desert Ecosystems: North African – Arab – Central Asian Dry Desert Ecosystems:

Promotion of UNESCO sites, unbiased research & training into Promotion of UNESCO sites, unbiased research & training into

biodiversity, climate & sealevel changebiodiversity, climate & sealevel change

Aims to contribute to unbiased knowledge, establish a regional climate change Aims to contribute to unbiased knowledge, establish a regional climate change

response centre, demonstrate climate change adaptation and enhance response centre, demonstrate climate change adaptation and enhance

capacity of Arab young people to get professionally involvedcapacity of Arab young people to get professionally involved

Cooperation of relevant UN specialised agencies is highly welcome. Cooperation of relevant UN specialised agencies is highly welcome.

UNESCO’s strategic objectiveUNESCO’s strategic objective

1. Building and maintaining the climate 1. Building and maintaining the climate

change knowledge base: science, assessment, change knowledge base: science, assessment,

monitoring, early warningmonitoring, early warning

2. Promoting mitigation and adaptation to 2. Promoting mitigation and adaptation to

climate change, including through enhanced education climate change, including through enhanced education

and public awarenessand public awareness

3. Moving towards a climate-neutral 3. Moving towards a climate-neutral

UNESCOUNESCO

Why do we need to look into climate change issues ?We do already have real and present environmental crisis in Arabia, such as:We do already have real and present environmental crisis in Arabia, such as:

Food crisis; Water crisis; Desertification; Pollution of air, soils, water & biota; Urban Food crisis; Water crisis; Desertification; Pollution of air, soils, water & biota; Urban

environmental issues, such as traffic issues and green house gas emissions; Loss of environmental issues, such as traffic issues and green house gas emissions; Loss of

biodiversitybiodiversity

These can be worsened by climate change

Sustainable environmental development is in the long-run even more

valuable than today’s prime industries because human living absolutely

depends on wise and pro-active management of natural resources. The

development of responsible tourism can make a valuable contribution.

UNESCO is ready to assist climate change issues UNESCO is ready to assist climate change issues