Secretary-General, at Scientific Advisory Board Meeting, Urges Harnessing ‘Full Power’ of Sciences to Shape, Implement Post-2015 Development Agenda

Following is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), at the third meeting of the Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board, in Kuala Lumpur today:

I am pleased to send greetings to the third meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board.  I thank the Honorable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Professor Zakri Abdul Hamid, for hosting this meeting and the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Mahyuddin Yassin, for officiating this function.  I also thank the Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Irina Bokova, for her leadership in coordinating the work of the Board.

This year, Member States will take decisions to shape a better future for all.  We must harness the full power and authority of the sciences, to shape and implement the post-2015 development agenda, locally, nationally, regionally and globally.

The role of the Scientific Advisory Board is essential in supporting States and societies to chart new paths towards more inclusive, sustainable development.  I count on you to raise awareness of the post-2015 development agenda among the global scientific community.  This includes the need for adequate financing for science, technology and innovation.

I also count on you to support States in fulfilling the Lima Paris action agenda, taking into account the climate change science conference in Paris next July.  Finally, I ask you to promote greater commitment to integrating indigenous and local knowledge into sustainable development solutions.

These are key challenges in this key year.  I wish you a productive session and thank you for your commitment to nurturing the full potential of the sciences for a better future for all humanity and the planet.