Abstract

E for Education, S for Science, and C for Culture – UNESCO has not only one of the broadest mandates of all UN institutions in terms of content, the organization also has a huge impact on large sections of the population through programmes and initiatives implemented by and with civil society. This article describes UNESCO’s course of action regarding the anthropogenically caused and interconnected crises that are threatening Earth’s habitats and the future of humankind. The discussion draws on best practice examples to show how UNESCO addresses these challenges through education, science, and culture and on the basis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The case of World Heritage sites being in danger underscores in particular the negative impact of the Anthropocene, whilst also demonstrating how, through the protection and preservation of these sites, UNESCO and its networks seize opportunities for positive change and lay down a path to a peaceful, more just, and more sustainable world community.