25 April 2013: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has launched a Centre for “Water for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change” in Belgrade, Serbia, which will aim to foster scientific cooperation and information exchange among organizations involved in sustainable water resources management.

The establishment of the Centre was carried out through the signing of an agreement between UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia, Zarko Obradovic.

The Minister underlined that the Centre will undertake its mandate within “the framework of relevant ongoing UNESCO initiatives, in particular the International Hydrological Programme (IHP).”

According to UNESCO, the Centre will act as a regional Centre in South East Europe focusing on cooperation in the areas of: applied research; water management; development and promotion of adaptation strategies; capacity development; and research for application, education, and training in the field of climate change impact on water resources management and the adaptation to such impacts. [UNESCO Press Release]