IYPE Global Launch Event at UNESCO
(Paris, France), 12 & 13 February 2008
On 12 and 13 February 2008, the International Year of Planet Earth was officially launched at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris. This event was co-organized by the IYPE Corporation and the National Committee of the IYPE in France, together with IUGS and UNESCO. UNESCO’s Director General Koïchiro Matsuura hosted the Event and some Heads of State were invited to address the audience.
During the Global Launch Event three conceptual issues were addressed: (1) Population growth & climate change: challenges for Planet Earth (2) Earth resources: threat or treat? (3) Geohazards: minimizing risk, maximizing awareness.
These issues were discussed by top scientists, CEOs of leading industries and leading politicians. The discussions were preceded by selected essays or poems from a crowd of 200 invited, award-winning students across the globe. National Committees played a key role in selecting the best students. Significant time was scheduled for the participants involved in the discussions.
