30 September 2008: The 180th session of the Executive Board
of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) opened
today and will continue until 17 October in Paris, France. The agenda for the
Board’s meeting includes the consideration for approval of a refined UNESCO
strategy for action on climate change.

The strategy was refined by an increased
focus on helping member States build and maintain the requisite knowledge base,
and to adopt measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change, contribute to
the mitigation of its causes, and strengthen sustainable development.
In
addition, the strategy takes into due consideration the call for increased
intersectoral cooperation and enhanced synergies among UNESCO’s science
programmes and is in line with ongoing efforts to promote a UN system-wide
approach to climate change, led by the Chief Executives Board for Coordination
and its High-Level Committee for Programmes. During its two yearly sessions,
the Executive Board brings together 58 of the 193 member States of UNESCO to
oversee the execution of the programme adopted by the Organization’s General
Conference. [UNESCO
Executive Board’s 180th session Agenda] [The refined
strategy]