Message from Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, for the International Geodiversity Day
教科文組織總幹事奧德蕾·阿祖萊地質多樣性國際日致辭
6 October 2022
2022年10月6日
2022年地質多樣性國際日
Geodiversity is the part of nature that is not alive – minerals, fossils, soils, mountains – as well as the geological processes that shape these features. It is the silent partner to biodiversity, helping us to understand the complex connections between the living and nonliving worlds.
地質多樣性，是由礦物、化石、土壤、山脈等自然界中的非生物部分以及打造這些形貌的地質過程構成的。它是生物多樣性的無聲夥伴，助力我們了解生物界與非生物界之間錯綜複雜的聯繫。
As such, geodiversity underpins food production, water management and energy production. It is also central to the ‘green’ transition: when used wisely, mineral resources can create wealth and jobs while decarbonizing development, all prerequisites for a sustainable future.
就此而論，地質多樣性可謂是糧食生產、水管理和能源生產的基礎，並且對於實現“綠色”轉型同樣至關重要：如果使用得當，礦產資源可以創造財富和就業機會，同時使發展脫碳，而所有這些都是邁向可持續未來的先決條件。
Understanding geological processes is therefore essential to explore the past, enjoy the present and prepare for an unpredictable future. Geodiversity can teach us about the impact of climate change at different periods of the Earth’s history, as well as cataclysmic events like the asteroid strike that led to the demise of dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
因此，了解地質過程，對於探索過去、暢享今朝和綢繆不可預測的未來必不可少。地質多樣性可以幫助我們了解地球歷史上不同時期氣候變化的影響，以及諸如6500萬年前導致恐龍滅絕的小行星撞擊之類的災難性事件。
This is why UNESCO is dedicated to promoting and protecting the diversity of our geological heritage – through the unique landscapes in our 177 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 46 countries, but also our many Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites. These UNESCO protected areas now cover 6% of the Earth’s surface.
也正因為如此，教科文組織通過遍布46個國家的177個教科文組織世界地質公園的獨特景觀，以及我們眾多的生物圈保護區和世界遺產地，致力於宣傳和保護我們地質遺產的多樣性。目前，這些教科文組織保護區覆蓋地球6%的面積。
As the only United Nations body with a mandate for the Earth sciences, UNESCO has spent the past 50 years fostering international cooperation to encourage better – and more equitable – use of the planet’s mineral resources, through its International Geoscience Programme.
作為唯一負有地球科學任務的聯合國機構，教科文組織在過去50年里，通過其國際地球科學計劃促進國際合作，以推動更好且更公平地利用地球上的礦產資源。
This year, the Geoscience Programme is supporting over 60 collaborative projects, with 379 project leaders across 92 countries. Sixty-one project leaders are from 23 African countries, and 42% of project leaders are women – for more accessible and inclusive science worldwide.
今年，地球科學計劃正在支持的合作項目有60餘個，所涉項目負責人共計379名，來自92個國家。其中61名項目負責人來自23個非洲國家，42%的項目負責人為女性——以此促進在全世界範圍內增強科學的可及性和包容性。
Now UNESCO is stepping up these efforts, with the celebration of International Geodiversity Day every year on 6 October. In line with the decision taken by our 193 Member States at our 2021 General Conference, this new event will celebrate the close relationship between biodiversity, geodiversity, culture and history, raising awareness of “nature’s stage”.
當前，教科文組織正在加強這些努力，包括在每年的10月6日慶祝“地質多樣性國際日”。根據我們193個會員國在2021年大會上所作出的決定，這一新活動將彰明生物多樣性、地質多樣性、文化和歷史之間的密切關係，提高對“自然舞台”的認識。
Indeed, geodiversity plays a fundamental role in human well-being, sustainability and the preservation of world heritage, issues affecting the whole planet. On this International Day, UNESCO calls on the international community to galvanize the potential of geological sciences – and view familiar landscapes through fresh eyes.
實際上，地質多樣性在人類福祉、可持續性和保護世界遺產方面發揮着重要作用，而所有這些問題又關乎整個地球。值此國際日之際，教科文組織呼籲國際社會激發地質科學的潛能，並以新的眼光審視熟悉的景觀。
