In a world where climate change and biodiversity loss dominate headlines, UNESCO’s Lidia Brito has a message: Science is the ultimate global language. 🌏✨ Speaking exclusively to CGTN at the UNESCO World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in China, Brito, the organization’s natural sciences chief, called for a united front against planetary crises. “These challenges don’t respect borders,” she said. “We need science to bridge divides.”
The Congress, hosted in China this year, spotlights UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MaB)—a geeky-but-essential initiative that’s quietly reshaping how communities coexist with nature. 🌳💡 Think of biosphere reserves as real-world labs where conservation meets sustainable farming, tourism, and tech. Brito calls them “hope spots” proving that economic growth and environmental protection aren’t enemies.
But here’s the twist: Brito insists science alone isn’t enough. Indigenous knowledge, like ancient farming hacks or forest management tricks passed down for generations, is equally vital. 🧠🌾 “Local communities hold keys we’ve overlooked,” she stressed, urging policymakers to blend high-tech data with grassroots wisdom.
With geopolitical tensions simmering globally, Brito doubled down on multilateralism: “No single nation can fix climate change. It’s Avengers-level teamwork or bust.” 💥 Her rallying cry? Empower youth, invest in green education, and treat biosphere reserves as blueprints for a resilient future.
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Exclusive: UNESCO official says science is key to global cooperation
cgtn.com