“Rethinking Climate-Smart Agriculture: Toward Vulnerable-Smart Agriculture” Endorsed as a Project of International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development

On Nov. 26, “Rethinking Climate-Smart Agriculture: Toward Vulnerable-Smart Agriculture” initiated by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was endorsed as a project by the UN International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD).

Confirmation letter signed by Lidia Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences

“Rethinking Climate-Smart Agriculture: Toward Vulnerable-Smart Agriculture” was chosen for its strong alignment with IDSSD objectives, particularly its contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agricultural transformation, climate adaptation, and science-based policies for vulnerable rural communities. The research introduces a new paradigm, “Vulnerable-Smart Agriculture,” which integrates agro-ecological practices, livelihood analysis, risk-sensitive planning, and participatory governance models. These components directly support the IDSSD mission of advancing interdisciplinary, solution-oriented science with measurable societal benefits.

UNESCO noted that the project’s central innovation — reframing Climate-Smart Agriculture into a more inclusive, livelihood-centered “Vulnerable-Smart Agriculture” framework — matched the Science Decade’s objectives of providing solution-oriented, socially responsive, and globally scalable approaches to sustainability challenges.

The International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033) was launched through a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in August 2023,with the goal of leveraging global scientific collaboration to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In October 2023, UNESCO issued a global call for program proposals. Following a rigorous review process, the second batch of 51 initiatives including “Rethinking Climate-Smart Agriculture: Toward Vulnerable-Smart Agriculture”, were officially endorsed by IDSSD.

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn