Knowledge and Diplomacy Science Advice in the United Nations System (2002) / Chapter Skim
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4 Structure of Science Advice in the United Nations System Today
4 Structure of Science Advice in the United Nations System Today
Pages 31-56
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From page 31... ...
However, over the years, the United Nations has been increasingly expanding the use of science advice in decision making and introducing institutional adjustments that seek to balance scientific integrity and interaction between policy and science. This chapter analyzes trends by reviewing activities in the Office of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral, functional commissions, programs, conventions, specialized agencies, processes and conferences, allied activities, and non-state actors.
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From page 32... ...
Assessments ot the role oi science and technology in the implementation of sustainable development goals in these five areas can play an important role in identifying opportunities for actions. The existence of science advice capacity in United Nations organs that convene summits and major conferences would help in determining the need for and modalities for such assessments.
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From page 33... ...
There are also functional commissions dealing with human rights, narcotic drugs, crime prevention, science and technology, the status of women, sustainable development, population, and statistics. The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
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From page 34... ...
consider information provided by governments, for example, in the form of periodic communications or national reports regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 2l, the problems they face, such as problems related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environment and development issues they find relevant; and (c) review the progress in the implementation of the commitments set forth in Agenda 2l, including those related to the provision of financial resources and transfer of technology.
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From page 35... ...
A great portion of UNEP's work is scientific and technical in nature, intended to generate knowledge on environmental management and sustainable development. UNEP acts as the convener for a number of scientific advisory groups, such as the Ecosystem Conservation Group (ECG)
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From page 36... ...
Acting within the limits of the mandate provided to it at the 1972 Stockholm United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, UNEP made effective use of its agenda-setting responsibilities to bring science to bear on international environmental policy (Gosovic, 1992; Tolba, 1998~. The quality of leadership, especia1~11y in its capacity to manage the policy and science worlds, played an important role in the capacity of the organization to serve as a knowledge broker (Cheyes and Cheyes, 1995~.
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From page 37... ...
Indeed, UNEP has over the years emerged as the secretariat of several international conventions dealing with issues such as biological diversity, ozone depletion, persistent organic pollutants, chemical pollution, hazardous waste, migratory species, and trade In endangered species. In addition, UNL;P hosts a number of scientific assessments dealing with themes such as international waters and ecosystems.
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From page 38... ...
This can be enhanced by more systematic interactions between S TAP and the policy-making organs of the GEF. Enhancing scientific credibility and facilitating interactions between science and policy will require strengthening the S TAP secretariat and formulating rules that reflect the new challenges.
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From page 39... ...
, biological diversity (including forests, aquatic, and marine life) , oceans and marine resources, land use change (including desertification and freshwater resources)
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From page 40... ...
Technical papers have included Implications of Proposer! CO2 Emissions Limitations, released in 1997, and Technologies, Policies and Measures for Mitigating Climate Change, released in 1996.
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From page 41... ...
These concerns are not unique to IPCC and continue to bedevil fields such as biological diversity research. For example, Diversitas, ICSU's research program on biological diversity, is built largely on research networks in industrialized countries with the hope that over time the program will expand to include more developing country teams.
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From page 42... ...
The story of the GBA raises fundamental questions about future independent assessments such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment that have tacit support from the governing bodies of various conventions but are subject to uncertain procedures on how the assessment and political processes interact, especially on issues that are dominated by geopolitical differences between the industrialized and developing countries (Biermann, 2000~. The UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD have analogous internal science advice organs and follow similar procedures.
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From page 43... ...
On the whole, the CBD continues to make efforts to improve the functioning of its science advice system, but the structure has not allowed for a balance between scientific credibility and policy involvement. The convention processes have placed a higher premium on policy involvement than on the need to improve the scientific credibility of the reports on which advice is provided.
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From page 44... ...
Several other conventions are also involved in efforts to improve the functioning of their science advice organs and processes with a focus on seeking a balance between scientific credibility and policy involvement. For example, the Ramsar Convention has in recent years been improving the functioning of its Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP)
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From page 45... ...
These measures have been easier to achieve than the more complex challenge of promoting interactions between science and policy while maintaining scientific credibility. con - ~ - ~ United Nations programs and funds represent some of the most influential global mechanisms for implementing sustainable development activities.
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From page 46... ...
There are also a number of science advisory bodies serving the seven or so regional fisheries organizations. An early example was the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
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From page 47... ...
IHP also sponsors postgraduate hydrology courses with emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach and prepares computer-based learning materials and, in cooperation with other UN agencies, a thesaurus of water resources terms.
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From page 48... ...
, and a website with Internet links to the world of oceanography. Over the years since its creation, TOC has had an active partnership with the Scientific Committee on Ocean Research of ICSU in organizing international scientific cooperation.
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From page 49... ...
Independent commissions have played an important role in defining the agenda for action in fields such as global governance, health research, disarmament and security, international development, population, food, water, solar energy, oceans, cultural diversity, large dams, sustainable development, and forests (Dowdeswell, 2001~. The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)
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From page 50... ...
The degree to which independent commissions rely on scientific and technical input varies considerably. Issues such as health, oceans, dams, and sustainable development have strong scientific underpinnings.
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From page 51... ...
The SSC has over the years played a key role in keeping the public informed about trends in the conservation and use of biological diversity. The information is used for policy making within fUCN as well as in other international treaties and organizations dealing with biodiversity conservation, such as CITES, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
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From page 53... ...
The {EA performs national assessments and reviews of member states' energy policies with the help of visiting teams of experts. It participates in joint programs with the Economic Commission for Europe and UNEP and provides background reports to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.
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From page 54... ...
The original concept of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment came from a meeting of members of The World Resources Institute (WRI) , United Nations Environmental Programme, United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank who were looking for a more comprehensive and realistic assessment of ecosystem goods and services than was available in 1998.
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From page 55... ...
Efforts to improve science advice in the UN system have focused on two main goals: enhancing scientific credibility and promoting interactions between science and policy. This is achieved through institutional adjustments of rules and procedures and organizational development, especially in secretariats responsible for managing science advice processes.
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