Publications
The UNESCO Global Geoparks
UNESCO Geoparks are places with outstanding geological and landscape features, where there are strong local efforts to make the most of Earth heritage through education, conservation and tourism.
This publication highlights the Geoparks’ stunning beauty while taking the reader on an entertaining and insightful journey that unravels the mystique behind each site.
From the significance of the rocks and fossils to fun facts and tourism tips, this book showcases nature in its most glorious form, in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Water for prosperity and peace
Water nurtures prosperity by meeting basic human needs, supporting health, livelihoods and economic development, underpinning food and energy security, and defending environmental integrity.
Climate change, geopolitical unrest, pandemics, mass migration, hyperinflation and other crises can exacerbate water access inequalities. In nearly all cases, the poorest and most vulnerable groups are those that suffer the greatest risks to their well-being.
The 2024 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report calls attention to the complex and interlinked relationships between water, prosperity and peace, describing how progress in one dimension can have positive, often essential, repercussions on the others.
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Documented in a multitude of languages from San and Ajami to Dutch and French, Africa's rich documentary collections span across borders and continents, demonstrating the interconnectedness of African histories and their ties to the world. Contained in this book are vignettes of a shared history of humanity that reveal the stories, identities, cultures and traditions of African people, but also memories of displacement, resilience and wisdom. The documentary heritage collections hold the key to understanding the past, present and future of the continent.
Towards a sustainable habitat
Architecture is an expression of the way we want to live. It engages our future, and is thus at the heart of contemporary issues – in particular sustainable development.
Today, the building sector accounts for 39% of global CO2 emissions. This reality highlights the need for a 'green revolution' in architecture. There are several ways to achieve this: by adapting to the climate, transforming old structures and practices, or using sustainable and non-polluting materials.
The UNESCO Courier invites you to discover some of these initiatives explored around the world.
This lush, photo-driven guide introduces 50 of the most magnificently biodiverse places around the world, revealing not only their physical beauty but also celebrating the flora and fauna that make them unique.
Over 900 color images and evocative, accessible text reveal the outstanding universal value of each site, through an exploration of its natural history. This is awe-inspiring natural beauty that belongs to us all.
Our world is full of wonders. From historic cities, castles and cathedrals to magnificent mountains, rainforests and oceans, the world’s greatest treasures belong to all humankind. This is our world heritage.
But our heritage is constantly under threat – from natural disasters, wars, climate change, construction, pollution and mass tourism.
In this book, co-published with Hachette, we visit over 70 World Heritage Sites in 52 countries.
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On the same subject
Archivos: Latin American and Caribbean identity (1988–2003)
- As the world started to discover Latin American literature, the absence of dialogue between the readers and specialists from the different countries in the region was made evident. In October 1988, the first 12 volumes of the Archives of 20th-century Latin American and Caribbean Literature, a collection launched in 1983 with the assistance of UNESCO, were published.
- Over the years, a total of 58 titles were produced, featuring the major works in Spanish, Portuguese and French from some of the best writers in Latin American and the Caribbean, along with critical essays, chronologies and background papers produced by the top specialists at the time. This collection remains unparalleled today.
Creative Cities of Literature
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
The Network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.
The 246 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.
La collection Bouba et Zaza
La collection « Bouba et Zaza – Cultures d’enfances », en partenariat avec les éditions Michel Lafon, aborde des thèmes sensibles comme l’environnement, l’illettrisme, l’éducation des filles ou le SIDA pour rompre les tabous et sensibiliser les enfants. Ces albums éducatifs et ludiques sont destinés aux enfants de trois à huit ans et se déclinent en plusieurs langues.
The Bouba & Zaza Collection
The "Bouba & Zaza - Childhood Cultures" Collection, in partnership with Michel Lafon Publishing, tackles sensitive issues such as the environment, illiteracy, girls' education and AIDS to break taboos and raise children's awareness. These educational and entertaining albums are aimed at children aged three to eight, and are available in several languages.
Open Access policy
In order to help reduce the gap between industrialized countries and those in the emerging economies, UNESCO decided in 2013 to adopt an Open Access Policy for its publications by making use of a new dimension of knowledge sharing.
Open Access means free access to scientific information and unrestricted use of electronic data for everyone.
For UNESCO, adopting an Open Access Policy means to make thousands of its publications freely available to the public.