Jubail: Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Eastern Region Governor, inaugurated the sixth International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC 6) on Monday. The event, hosted by Jubail Industrial City, is set to continue until December 5 and is organized by the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) under the theme “Learning Cities at the Forefront of Climate Action.”
According to Saudi Press Agency, the conference gathers global dignitaries, experts, and decision-makers to deliberate on the crucial role of education in addressing climate challenges and enhancing the quality of life. In his opening remarks, Prince Saud emphasized the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s dedication, under its visionary leadership, to sustainable education as a means to tackle climate challenges. He highlighted education as a vital tool for raising community awareness, developing skills, and empowering the youth to lead in addressing c
limate changes.
Prince Saud remarked that climate change is no longer a distant threat but an urgent reality, necessitating strengthened local, regional, and international partnerships to generate actionable recommendations that influence effective policies to combat the climate crisis. The conference aims to highlight education as a vital instrument for climate resilience and improving quality of life.
During the opening ceremony, the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Award 2024 winners were announced, honoring ten cities worldwide, including Yanbu Industrial City-the second Saudi city to receive this accolade after Jubail Industrial City. UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning Director Isabell Kempf expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu for hosting the significant event. She noted that the conference’s workshops and sessions would emphasize the potential of learning cities and lifelong education in supporting climate action.
Kempf highlighted that UNESCO
‘s GNLC engages approximately 400 million citizens in daily educational activities, fostering a shared future. She praised the unique position of learning cities in driving behavioral change, inspiring citizens, and leading climate action. Kempf also congratulated the award-winning cities, commending their leadership in reimagining urban spaces as catalysts for sustainable transformation.
