UNESCO Sites - Climate Change - Space Technology

The International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO and the Huangshan City Administration, custodians of the World Mixed Heritage site and Global Geopark of Huangshan Mountains, will convene the 2nd Huangshan Dialogue in September 2016. The theme of the 2nd Huangshan Dialogue is "UNESCO Sites - Climate Change - Space Technology". 

The 2nd Dialogue builds on the resounding success of the 1st organized by the Huangshan City Administration, HIST and its host institution, the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in partnership with the World Heritage Centre, the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences of UNESCO, Paris, and the UNESCO Beijing Office. The theme of the 1st Dialogue, convened during 27-29 May 2014 in Huangshan City, “Application of Space Technologies for World Heritage Sites, World Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks” attracted more than 50 international and 120 Chinese representatives responsible for international cooperation, site management, research and training and administration and policy of World Heritage sites, World Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks recognized by UNESCO. The report of the 1st Huangshan Dialogue, including the Huangshan Declaration unanimously adopted on 29 May 2014, is available at: http://www.unesco-hist/org.

In organizing the 2nd Huangshan Dialogue, HIST and the Huangshan City Administration are fulfilling their promise made to the participants of the 1st Dialogue: i.e. the convening of the 2nd Dialogue within a period of approximately two-years after the first and exploring the establishment of Huangshan Dialogue as a permanent forum for documenting and disseminating information on how UNESCO designated places are helping to address and find solutions to global environmental and development problems.

At the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris, France from 30 November to 11 December 2015, 195 Member States of the United Nations adopted the historic Paris Accord for addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. The Paris Accord was based on contributions made by well over 180 countries, including China, on efforts they will undertake during the period up to 2030 to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Combating climate change is sustainable development goal 13 (SDG 13) and is part of the 17 SDGs adopted by the United Nations about a month before the Paris Accord in New York, USA. Reaching SDG 13 has important relevance to the attainment of several other SDGs such as the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans (SDG 14) and terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15), making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG 11), ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy sources for all (SDG 7) and building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation (SDG 9).

During the period from 2016 to 2030, UNESCO sites can be international platforms for experimenting with and learning ways and means for humanity to adapt to climate change. The Huangshan Declaration, adopted on the last day of the 1st Huangshan Dialogue on 29 May 2014, called for the promotion of UNESCO sites as experimental and learning sites for the post-2015 international co-operation agenda. Hence, the organizers of the 2nd Huangshan Dialogue invite managers, administrators, scientists and others engaged to share information, data, knowledge, experience and proposals and ideas for international cooperation during the period from 2016 to 2030 for using World Heritage sites, World Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks as pilot/experimental sites to test and demonstrate strategies for adapting to climate change. All those who are willing to contribute papers to the 2nd Huangshan Dialogue based on their work on UNESCO sites, as well as others, including the many international students undertaking their post-graduate studies in China and who wish to attend and learn from experts, are welcome to consider participating in the 2nd Huangshan Dialogue.

For further information and details, please contact:
Mr. Hong Tianhua
Executive Deputy Director
HIST Beijing, China
Email: hongth@radi.ac.cn
Official website of the 2nd Huangshan Dialogue