Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO

Natural Sciences

Summary

• The Natural Sciences Sector supports development of science and technology in developing countries, promotes international cooperation in science in the interests of peace, shares ideas and information regarding environmental problems, practices efficient use of resources for sustainable development, and precedes various projects to reflect on science, technology, and ethical problems.
• Today, the Natural Sciences Sector implements major international programmes in the freshwater, marine, ecological, earth and basic sciences, and natural disaster prevention while at the same time promoting national and regional science and technology polices and capacity building in the sciences, engineering and renewable energy such as Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)

Main Projects

Freshwater

• he International Hydrological Programme (IHP) operates as a global network that works together to implement the organization’s strategic goals. Its work is built on three tracks including hydrological science for policy relevant advice, education and capacity building responding to the growing needs of sustainable development and water resources assessment and management to achieve environmental sustainability.
• Twenty-six agencies of the UN system cooperate through the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) to provide an ongoing global assessment of the state of the world’s freshwater resources.

Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)

• By focusing on 564 sites in 109 countries recognized within the World Network Biosphere Reserves, the MAB Programme develops the basis within the natural and social sciences for the rational and sustainable use and conservation of the resources of the biosphere and for the improvement of the overall relationship between people and their environment.

Ocean

• UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) coordinates ocean observation, monitoring, hazard mitigation, and capacity development through the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) in order to understand and effectively manage the resources of the ocean and coastal areas.
• Republic of Korea as a permanent state member of the International Oceanographic Commission 2007-2009

Earth Sciences

• The IGCP is a cooperative enterprise of UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). With the cooperation of IUGS and scientists from more than 150 countries, the Organization is doing research on improving mineral and groundwater resources extraction and reducing damage from natural disasters in underdeveloped countries.

Disaster Prevention

• As a part of United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), the Organization contributes to the minimization of damage from natural disasters and promotes ways to prepare for floods, education related to disaster risk reduction into school curricula, and plans for managing disaster in megacities.

Coasts and Small Islands

• The Organization promotes efficient use of coasts in small islands.

Basic Sciences

• The International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) is an international multidisciplinary programme established by UNESCO Member States whose projects are carried out in the field of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biotechnology.

Renewable Energy

• Through Global Renewable Energy Education and Training (GREET) Programme, the Organization carries out projects that promotes importance and effectiveness of renewable energy such as solar energy for underdeveloped countries.

Social and Humanities

Summary

• Social and Humanities Sector aims to advance knowledge, standards and intellectual cooperation in order to facilitate social transformations conducive to the universal values of justice, freedom and human dignity.
• In recent years, various projects have been carried out focusing on bioethics, human rights, social transformations, and youth.

Main Projects

Ethics

• The International Bioethics Committee (IBC) since 1993 and the Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC) since 1998 have been working with a view to setting the international standards and norms and supporting the national policies.
• In 1998, the World Commission on Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) established to formulate ethical principles that could provide decision-makers with criteria. Currently, the activities are related to the ethical issues such as climate change, biodiversity, water, disaster prevention and the technologies of the information.

Human Rights

• Promoting the aspirations of all people, especially young women and men, to strive for the realization of shared universal values, such as tolerance, pluralism, the respect of human rights, freedom and dialogue.

Management of Social Transformation (MOST)

• Promoting dialogue and cooperation between researchers and policy-makers especially through research and consultation on globalization, international migration, multicultural policies, and urban policies in the MOST programmes.

Humanities and Philosophy

• Since 2002, the third Thursday of November is designated as the 'World Philosophy Day', attracting global attention to philosophy through various events.
• Also, since 2011, the World Humanities Forum takes place with the support of the Government of Korea to promote the humanities in Member States.

Physical Education and Sport

• The Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) aims to promote international cooperation in physical education to strengthen world peace, mutual understanding and respect.
• The International Convention Against Doping in Sport was adopted at the UNESCO General Conference in 2005 and it helps to formalize global anti-doping rules, policies and guidelines in order to provide an honest and equitable playing environment for all athletes.