Your Excellency Ambassador Inga Rhonda King, President of the Economic and Social Council,Your Excellencies, Ambassador Chatardová and Ambassador Thomson, Co-Chairs of the 4th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals,Excellencies,Distinguished Delegates,Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, it is my great pleasure to address this 4th Multi-stakeholder STI Forum.
I welcome all representatives and participants from governments, UN system, major groups, academia and the private sector. You are all helping bring to life our common aspirations for long lasting human progress that will leave no one behind.
The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015 was a victory for international cooperation, but most of all for the world’s people.
Member States wisely instituted the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism, its STI Forum, and several other new entry points for science and technology, to inform UN deliberations and to inspire national action.
The result has been the engagement of an unprecedented number of scientists, innovators, policy makers, business persons, and young people to leverage science, technology and innovation for the SDGs.
I am pleased to see so many of you here today to share ideas and knowledge, and to establish dialogue and collaboration. The year 2019 is a special year for the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism. It marks the end of the first quadrennial cycle of SDG implementation and review.
In forthcoming September, there will be several high-level gatherings here in the United Nations Headquarters to mark the occasion, including the SDG Summit, the Climate Summit, the Financing for Development Dialogue and the Midterm Review of the SAMOA Pathway. It is therefore an opportune time to reflect on lessons-learnt and on the way forward.
Ladies and gentlemen,Our initial assessments of SDG achievement show that there is a lot to be done. Poverty reduction is becoming harder, hunger is on the rise and inequalities are becoming more entrenched.
Biodiversity loss and green-house gas emissions continue at truly alarming rates, threatening the very foundations of what sustains us.
However, there are also visible signs of progress.
In many parts of the world, infectious diseases are retreating. Access to modern and clean energy services is increasing. Forest cover is spreading globally.
Institutions and partnerships are being re-configured to strengthen concerted actions, resolve trade-offs and deliver results in more effective ways.
What strikes me is how central the STI is to all of these areas where we are making headway.
STI will also be fundamental to how we tackle areas where we are not yet seeing the outcomes we need. I therefore remain convinced that with science, technology and innovation, we can bring the inspiring vision of the 2030 Agenda to life.
Excellencies,On all fronts, multilateral action is essential. Only together can we find solutions to poverty, inequality and climate change – the three defining challenges of our times.
Only together can we bolster our rule-based global trading system and mobilize the technology, solutions and financing we need to achieve the SDGs.
World leaders are committed to solving some of our hardest global challenges. They are committed to preparing our children for a future that may be fundamentally different from ours. These aspirations cannot be met through business as usual.
Inspiration and knowledge can come from many different sources. They need to be supported by effective partnerships – a challenge for which the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism – or TFM, was created.
Indeed, the Mechanism demonstrates an entirely new and truly one-UN model of working in the UN system.
At present, 42 UN-system entities are working together at the expert level in the Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs.
As the Head of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, one of my priorities is to strengthen the coordination, cooperation and coherence within the UN system itself for the implementation of the SDGs.
Indeed, the Inter-agency Task Team has tirelessly worked together to deliver on a number of focused work streams. Their work on STI roadmaps for the SDGs has led to a guidebook for countries at different stages of development, advancing towards piloting in a number of countries.
Expert staff from several UN entities have pooled their training materials and delivered joint training workshops on STI policy in Jordan and Panama, with others under consideration.
Inclusive consultations have been ongoing on new and emerging technologies and their impacts on the SDGs, resulting in policy briefs on specific issues of concern.
Gender disparities, which limit the transformative power of STI, are also being mapped and analysed. You will see a special exhibit on women in science this year, as a result of their efforts.
I commend the Task Team and encourage it to continue its broad and systematic cooperation. I am particularly grateful to our colleagues from UNCTAD and UNEP, who have tirelessly worked alongside DESA staff over the last four years, to coordinate this work.
I must also recognise the extremely important role of the 10-Member Advisory Group, appointed by the Secretary-General. This Group has enthusiastically brought knowledge, expertise and experience from across the world to help realize the mission of the TFM. I am grateful to all the members – past and present – for their dedication and commitment.
Ladies and Gentlemen,The multi-stakeholder Technology Facilitation Mechanism complements other UN science and technology related initiatives.
It recognises that in our new world the optimal impact of scientific knowledge on the SDGs will be achieved – not just through deliberations and negotiations between Member States – but also through a society-wide collaboration.
It calls for advocacy, consensus building, practical contributions and knowledge sharing across innovators, the private sector, young people, academia, the holders of traditional knowledge and many others.
This very Forum is part of the Mechanism. I am pleased at its active demonstration of the power and potential of multi-stakeholder engagement.
Yet another TFM component is an on-line platform to serve as a gateway for information on existing STI initiatives, mechanisms and programs. Obviously, the development of such a platform is of great importance. It will help connect providers of technology solutions to those who seek them.
Last year, we saw the demonstration of a working prototype of this platform. Since that time, partnerships have expanded, and functionalities are being improved. Yet, much remains to be done in framing the platform and resource constraints delay progress.
Distinguished Delegates,All the progress made is commendable. Yet for it to reach its true potential, we need sustainable funding and partner contributions. Your support is both urgent and critical. I believe our joint commitments towards this end will have an outsize impact.
The next couple of days promise to be a period of immense learning into how STI works for the SDGs. We will have interactive discussions at the formal sessions of the Forum, and during the side events – numbering more than 30 this year. I encourage you to participate fully and contribute actively.
Our global call for innovations received a record number of submissions this year. You will see some of them on display in the Visitors’ Lobby.
We continue to develop closer links to regional and thematic STI events, such as the G-STIC Conference series and the Global Solutions Summit. Like last year, there are several STI events taking place during this week – in New York and beyond. Tomorrow, we will have a video message from the Chair of the Commission for Science and Technology for Development which is also being held this week in Geneva.
I congratulate the organizers of all these events and trust that you will find them valuable and enriching.
Ladies and Gentlemen,We all have ideas of how science and technology could support achievement of the SDGs. At the same time, society co-evolves with STI in intricate ways. They shape each other - in both positive and negative ways.
We must work consciously to magnify benefits and limit the negative impacts. This is no easy task. It requires the active engagement of all stakeholders. It requires that we stay informed of the transformative changes under way and work continually to harness them for our common good.
I believe that we are in the right place and at the right time to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The discussions and activities here will inform the High-Level Political Forum – the apex global body for the review of the implementation of the SDGs – in July and September this year.
I am confident that during this Forum you will find ideas, new energy and even partnerships to strengthen your efforts.
Through our collective endeavour, we will be able to enable better lives for all our peoples and protect the richness of natural life on our planet - the only home we have.
I wish you all a very successful STI Forum.
Thank you.
On behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, it is my great pleasure to address this 4th Multi-stakeholder STI Forum.
I welcome all representatives and participants from governments, UN system, major groups, academia and the private sector. You are all helping bring to life our common aspirations for long lasting human progress that will leave no one behind.
The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015 was a victory for international cooperation, but most of all for the world’s people.
Member States wisely instituted the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism, its STI Forum, and several other new entry points for science and technology, to inform UN deliberations and to inspire national action.
The result has been the engagement of an unprecedented number of scientists, innovators, policy makers, business persons, and young people to leverage science, technology and innovation for the SDGs.
I am pleased to see so many of you here today to share ideas and knowledge, and to establish dialogue and collaboration. The year 2019 is a special year for the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism. It marks the end of the first quadrennial cycle of SDG implementation and review.
In forthcoming September, there will be several high-level gatherings here in the United Nations Headquarters to mark the occasion, including the SDG Summit, the Climate Summit, the Financing for Development Dialogue and the Midterm Review of the SAMOA Pathway. It is therefore an opportune time to reflect on lessons-learnt and on the way forward.
Ladies and gentlemen,Our initial assessments of SDG achievement show that there is a lot to be done. Poverty reduction is becoming harder, hunger is on the rise and inequalities are becoming more entrenched.
Biodiversity loss and green-house gas emissions continue at truly alarming rates, threatening the very foundations of what sustains us.
However, there are also visible signs of progress.
In many parts of the world, infectious diseases are retreating. Access to modern and clean energy services is increasing. Forest cover is spreading globally.
Institutions and partnerships are being re-configured to strengthen concerted actions, resolve trade-offs and deliver results in more effective ways.
What strikes me is how central the STI is to all of these areas where we are making headway.
STI will also be fundamental to how we tackle areas where we are not yet seeing the outcomes we need. I therefore remain convinced that with science, technology and innovation, we can bring the inspiring vision of the 2030 Agenda to life.
Excellencies,On all fronts, multilateral action is essential. Only together can we find solutions to poverty, inequality and climate change – the three defining challenges of our times.
Only together can we bolster our rule-based global trading system and mobilize the technology, solutions and financing we need to achieve the SDGs.
World leaders are committed to solving some of our hardest global challenges. They are committed to preparing our children for a future that may be fundamentally different from ours. These aspirations cannot be met through business as usual.
Inspiration and knowledge can come from many different sources. They need to be supported by effective partnerships – a challenge for which the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism – or TFM, was created.
Indeed, the Mechanism demonstrates an entirely new and truly one-UN model of working in the UN system.
At present, 42 UN-system entities are working together at the expert level in the Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs.
As the Head of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, one of my priorities is to strengthen the coordination, cooperation and coherence within the UN system itself for the implementation of the SDGs.
Indeed, the Inter-agency Task Team has tirelessly worked together to deliver on a number of focused work streams. Their work on STI roadmaps for the SDGs has led to a guidebook for countries at different stages of development, advancing towards piloting in a number of countries.
Expert staff from several UN entities have pooled their training materials and delivered joint training workshops on STI policy in Jordan and Panama, with others under consideration.
Inclusive consultations have been ongoing on new and emerging technologies and their impacts on the SDGs, resulting in policy briefs on specific issues of concern.
Gender disparities, which limit the transformative power of STI, are also being mapped and analysed. You will see a special exhibit on women in science this year, as a result of their efforts.
I commend the Task Team and encourage it to continue its broad and systematic cooperation. I am particularly grateful to our colleagues from UNCTAD and UNEP, who have tirelessly worked alongside DESA staff over the last four years, to coordinate this work.
I must also recognise the extremely important role of the 10-Member Advisory Group, appointed by the Secretary-General. This Group has enthusiastically brought knowledge, expertise and experience from across the world to help realize the mission of the TFM. I am grateful to all the members – past and present – for their dedication and commitment.
Ladies and Gentlemen,The multi-stakeholder Technology Facilitation Mechanism complements other UN science and technology related initiatives.
It recognises that in our new world the optimal impact of scientific knowledge on the SDGs will be achieved – not just through deliberations and negotiations between Member States – but also through a society-wide collaboration.
It calls for advocacy, consensus building, practical contributions and knowledge sharing across innovators, the private sector, young people, academia, the holders of traditional knowledge and many others.
This very Forum is part of the Mechanism. I am pleased at its active demonstration of the power and potential of multi-stakeholder engagement.
Yet another TFM component is an on-line platform to serve as a gateway for information on existing STI initiatives, mechanisms and programs. Obviously, the development of such a platform is of great importance. It will help connect providers of technology solutions to those who seek them.
Last year, we saw the demonstration of a working prototype of this platform. Since that time, partnerships have expanded, and functionalities are being improved. Yet, much remains to be done in framing the platform and resource constraints delay progress.
Distinguished Delegates,All the progress made is commendable. Yet for it to reach its true potential, we need sustainable funding and partner contributions. Your support is both urgent and critical. I believe our joint commitments towards this end will have an outsize impact.
The next couple of days promise to be a period of immense learning into how STI works for the SDGs. We will have interactive discussions at the formal sessions of the Forum, and during the side events – numbering more than 30 this year. I encourage you to participate fully and contribute actively.
Our global call for innovations received a record number of submissions this year. You will see some of them on display in the Visitors’ Lobby.
We continue to develop closer links to regional and thematic STI events, such as the G-STIC Conference series and the Global Solutions Summit. Like last year, there are several STI events taking place during this week – in New York and beyond. Tomorrow, we will have a video message from the Chair of the Commission for Science and Technology for Development which is also being held this week in Geneva.
I congratulate the organizers of all these events and trust that you will find them valuable and enriching.
Ladies and Gentlemen,We all have ideas of how science and technology could support achievement of the SDGs. At the same time, society co-evolves with STI in intricate ways. They shape each other - in both positive and negative ways.
We must work consciously to magnify benefits and limit the negative impacts. This is no easy task. It requires the active engagement of all stakeholders. It requires that we stay informed of the transformative changes under way and work continually to harness them for our common good.
I believe that we are in the right place and at the right time to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The discussions and activities here will inform the High-Level Political Forum – the apex global body for the review of the implementation of the SDGs – in July and September this year.
I am confident that during this Forum you will find ideas, new energy and even partnerships to strengthen your efforts.
Through our collective endeavour, we will be able to enable better lives for all our peoples and protect the richness of natural life on our planet - the only home we have.
I wish you all a very successful STI Forum.
Thank you.
File date:
Tuesday, May 14, 2019