Agenda 21: Chapter 31
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY

31.1. The present chapter focuses on how to enable the scientific and technological community, which includes, among others, engineers, architects, industrial designers, urban planners and other professionals and policy makers, to make a more open and effective contribution to the decision-making processes concerning environment and development. It is important that the role of science and technology in human affairs be more widely known and better understood, both by decision makers who help determine public policy and by the general public. The cooperative relationship existing between the scientific and technological community and the general public should be extended and deepened into a full partnership. Improved communication and cooperation between the scientific and technological community and decision makers will facilitate greater use of scientific and technical information and knowledge in policies and programme implementation. Decision makers should create more favourable conditions for improving training and independent research in sustainable development. Existing multidisciplinary approaches will have to be strengthened and more interdisciplinary studies developed between the scientific and technological community and policy makers and with the general public to provide leadership and practical know-how to the concept of sustainable development. The public should be assisted in communicating their sentiments to the scientific and technological community concerning how science and technology might be better managed to affect their lives in a beneficial way. By the same token, the independence of the scientific and technological community to investigate and publish without restriction and to exchange their findings freely must be assured. The adoption and implementation of ethical principles and codes of practice for the scientific and technological community that are internationally accepted could enhance professionalism and may improve and hasten recognition of the value of its contributions to environment and development, recognizing the continuing evolution and uncertainty of scientific knowledge.

Continue reading Chapter 31 of Agenda 21.

Below are the official documents submitted by the Scientific and Technological Community to the CSD over the years.

Below are statements made by the major groups at CSD meetings since the introduction of the new two-year cycle approach in 2004. All other statements can be accessed  in the past CSD sessions page. 

• Major groups case studies on energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere, and climate change (CSD-14)
• Case Studies on the Role of Major Groups in Sustainable Oceans and Seas (CSD-7)
• Study on Role of Major Groups and changing consumption and Production Patterns (CSD-7)
• Case studies on education, awareness raising and major groups (CSD-6)
• Link to Sustainable Development Case Studies Database

Partnerships of farmers can be found on this website.

Mr. Thomas Rosswall
International Council for Science (ICSU)
51, bd de Montmorency, FR- 75016 Paris, France
Tel: +331-4525-0329; Fax: +33 1) 42 88 94 31
E-mail: thomas.rosswall@icsu.org

Mr. Gisbert Glaser
International Council for Science (ICSU)
51, bd de Montmorency, FR- 75016 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 45 25 03 29; Fax: +33 1 42 88 94 31
E-mail: gisbert.glaser@icsu.org

Mr. Jorge Spitalnik
World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO)
1 rue Miollis - Maison de 1’UNESCO, 75015 Paris, France
Tel: +55 21 2267 4050; Fax: +55 21 2522 2760
E-mail: jspitalnik@alternex.com.br
 

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