The Earth sciences provide us with invaluable knowledge about the Earth, its systems and its 4.6 billion year history. This knowledge is essential for responding to present-day challenges of human society, such as preserving our Earth’s resources for future generations, mitigating the impact of global warming and mitigating the risks of geological hazards.
In order to more closely reflect the societal challenges of Earth Science today and provide an international status to a former network of sites of geological significance, UNESCO’s General Conference approved, on 17 November 2015, the creation of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP). The IGGP comprises the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP), which for over 40 years has brought geoscientists together from all regions of the world to study the Earth and geological processes under themes which have increasing societal relevance, and the UNESCO Global Geoparks, which promote sites of international geological value and are the basis of local sustainable development.
