Science can solve many sophisticated environmental challenges such as loss of biodiversity, climate change, poverty reduction, and pollution. It provides new solutions and approaches to solving existing problems.
Science can create dynamic connections between action and knowledge. This has seen the emergence of sustainability science, a new approach to environmental protection.
The Japanese Government together with UNESCO have brought major stakeholders together from the policy-making community, academia, the United Nations, and specialized institutions.
They work together to broaden sustainability science and better define it to foster the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Science and technology can help solve future challenges, resulting in an eco-friendly and different economy.
Sustainability science supports decision-making regarding global environmental sustainability due to the connection that links environmental, social and cultural systems. UNESCO and its partners create awareness and advocate for development of the science-based approach.
Sustainability science is an indicator of the complex challenges the world is experiencing, including the responsibilities it lays for UNESCO and related organizations.
The NCSE Conference showcases the need to protect the environment in sustainable ways due to climate change and its impending effects.
Circular economy is a science-based technology that helps fight global warming. It enhances efficiency of linear processes of production and supports reuse of materials that were initially tagged waste.
The sustainable strategy of development reduces raw materials and waste, including consumption of energy and water when producing goods or services.
Similarly, bioeconomy makes use of living things and/or their parts to protect and save the environment, in turn fostering growth.
Biotechnology produces crops that resist climate change. Vitamin A-enriched golden rice is flooding-resistant and adapts to changes in weather conditions such as global warming. Drought-tolerant cereals are also being produced.
Biofuels and electric cars are also expected to save the environment. Hybrid vehicles and “green cars” also consume less energy and thus lower emissions into the environment. Renewable energy and biomass fuels are also an important aspect of the circular economy.
Bioremediation uses fungi or bacteria to clean environments contaminated with oil and decontaminate waste water from urban areas. This promotes sustainable development.
Biomaterials is a science-based technology that uses new materials to “store” carbon dioxide, eventually reducing the greenhouse effect and global warming.
For instance, banana blades were manufactured for construction purposes in Mexico to remove toxic compounds such as asbestos often found in building materials. This reduces the risk of developing cancer.
Science, together with technical innovation and research, reduces the effect of global warming, cleans up polluted areas, helps adapt to climate change, and protects human health, ultimately saving the environment.