KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Given the enormity of the challenges confronting humanity, the world’s investment in science, technology and innovation is woefully inadequate.
That was a key message by Ban Ki-moon in a summary report of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)—a group of two dozen scientists from around the world who met with Ban for one final meeting in New York before he steps down on December 31.
In 2014 we had been asked to take stock of global challenges and provide recommendations related to science, technology and innovation (STI) that would enlighten the work and decisions of the UN.
And, at the end of our mission, the SAB’s labeled science an essential component—in many cases the bedrock—of an effective strategy for policy and decision-making that deserves to be valued more highly and used effectively at all levels and at three crucial phases: understanding the problems, formulating policies and ensuring that those policies are implemented effectively. “Science,” the report says, “makes policy out of brick, not straw.”
Science is, indeed, a “game changer,” a good example being faster-than-expected improvements in the efficiency of solar panels and wind turbines, raising the hope that the world can reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, thanks to scientists and engineers.
However, to become the game changer it could be in dealing with nearly all of the most pressing global challenges, science requires more resources.
In fact, all nations must invest more in science technology and innovation. Sadly, today just 12 countries—Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Qatar, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States—dedicate the previously recommended benchmark of 2.5 percent or more of their GDP to research and development.
This simply is not enough, given the literally vital interests at stake. We have called on all countries, even the poorest, to invest at least 1 percent of their GDP on research. And the most advanced countries should spend at least 3percent.
Reinforcing science education, most especially in developing countries, and improving girls’ access to science courses, must also be part of the effort. To ensure a continuing flow of creative scientists, countries should strongly promote education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for all children beginning at an early age.
Meanwhile, science should be accorded greater weight in political decision-making. To quote the report: “Decisions are often taken in response to short-term economic and political interests, rather than the long-term interests of people and the planet.”
Illustrating the point well: almost 25 years passed between the scientific community sounding its first alarm about climate change and the world’s adoption, in December 2015, of the Paris Agreement on that subject.
Enabling fair access to and the effective worldwide use of data has emerged as a new area in which the UN can play an important role.
The burgeoning flow of scientific data—the data revolution—has great potential for good if its availability, management, use and growth are handled effectively. The UN and its agencies can facilitate the gathering of all types of data while overseeing both quality and access. In its report, the SAB also calls for international collaborative projects in this area. One other point worth underlining: Science has value beyond issues that are essentially “scientific.” To quote the report: “When tensions arise among nations, their leaders can respond far better if they understand and agree upon the scientific evidence for the root causes of those tensions.”
Our report was presented to Ban by Irina Bokova, director general of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, who chaired the SHB.
It is hoped that whoever this year earns the trust of UN member-nations and assumes the mantle of secretary general will promote the messages of this report internationally and help ensure that they’re accorded the importance they deserve.