As World Shapes Post-2015 Development Agenda, Secretary-General, in Video Message, Counts on Scientific Board to Help Ensure Plan Based upon Sound Evidence

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to members of the Scientific Advisory Board, in Paris today:

Dear distinguished members of the Scientific Advisory Board,

Thank you for your vision and commitment.  I am also grateful to UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] Director-General Irina Bokova and her team for supporting your work.

Our first meeting in Berlin this January was a great success.  I appreciate your engagement since then, and I look forward to even stronger collaboration with you in the future.

As the world shapes the post-2015 development agenda, I count on you to help ensure that it is based on sound science and evidence.

There are five areas where you can make a difference.

First:  ideas on how to strengthen the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

Second:  input for the Global Sustainable Development Report.

Third:  contributions to the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development.

Fourth:  advice on climate change ahead of next year’s Paris conference where we hope to adopt a universal new climate agreement.

Fifth:  thoughts on the important question of means of implementation for the new agenda.

These are leading issues — but others may emerge.  Please raise any scientific concerns you have about the future of people and the planet — and I will do my best to push for a global response.

Merci.