UNESCO announces new appointments to Global Geoparks and International Geoscience Programme Councils

Overview of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Governance

According to the Statutes of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme(38 C/14, Annex I) and the Operational Guidelines for UNESCO Global Geoparks (38 C/14, Annex II), approved by the 38th General Conference:

• The International Geoscience Programme Council shall consist of six ordinary members, appointed by mutual agreement by the Director-General of UNESCO and the President of the International Union of Geological Sciences.

• The UNESCO Global Geoparks Council shall consist of 12 ordinary members appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO on the recommendation of the Global Geoparks Network and Member States.

• Members of both Councils serve four-year terms, renewable once, with half the membership renewed every two years.

Four new appointees to the International Geoscience Programme Council

The International Geoscience Programme Council is responsible for advising the Director-General of UNESCO and the President of IUGS on the strategy, planning, and implementation of the IGCP. Members of the IGCP Council are high-level experts actively engaged in scientific research related to Earth sciences, including Global Change, Geohazards, Hydrogeology, Earth Resources, and Geodynamics.

Twenty-one eligible candidates applied, including six women. Four applications were deemed invalid due to incompletion or failure to meet the requirements outlined in the Terms of Reference. In line with UNESCO's priority on gender equality and diverse geographical representation, while maintaining the highest qualifications among its members, UNESCO Director-General Ms. Audrey Azoulay has nominated the following scientists to the new IGCP Council, whose duties will commence in January 2025:

Appointment of six new members to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council

The UNESCO Global Geoparks Council is the decision-making body for new UNESCO Global Geoparks applications and the revalidation of existing ones. The Council advises the Director-General on the strategic planning and implementation of the UNESCO Global Geoparks.

Following the call for nominations, fourteen candidates were proposed by Member States and the Global Geoparks Network, with ten meeting the eligibility criteria. After reviewing the candidates, UNESCO Director-General Ms. Audrey Azoulay has nominated the following experts to join the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, starting in September 2024:

Summary of Councils compositions

Beginning in January 2025, the International Geoscience Programme Council will comprise the following members:

The new UNESCO Global Geoparks Council will take effect in September 2024:

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