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 on Monday the sixth International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC 6).
Hosted by Jubail Industrial City, the event runs 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."
The conference brings together global dignitaries, experts, and decision-makers to discuss education's pivotal role in addressing climate challenges and improving quality of life.
In his opening remarks, Prince Saud highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment under its wise leadership to the importance of sustainable education in tackling climate challenges.
He emphasized education as a powerful tool for building community awareness, enhancing skills, and empowering youth to lead in addressing these changes.
He noted that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a pressing reality, calling for strengthened local, regional, and international partnerships to produce actionable recommendations that shape effective policies to combat the climate crisis.
The conference aims to spotlight education as an effective instrument for climate resilience and achieving a higher quality of life.
During the opening ceremony, the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Award 2024 winners were announced, recognizing 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 her appreciation to Saudi Arabia and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu for hosting the important event.
She noted that the conference’s workshops and sessions would underscore the potential of learning cities and lifelong education in supporting climate action.
Kempf highlighted that UNESCO’s GNLC involves approximately 400 million citizens actively engaging in daily educational activities, shaping a shared future.
She praised learning cities' unique position in driving behavioral change, inspiring citizens, and spearheading climate action.
Kempf also congratulated the award-winning cities, commending their leadership in reimagining urban spaces as catalysts for sustainable transformation.