UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova monday urged all to build a better future with power of science.
“To make the most of this power, we need to understand more clearly the global landscape of science and we need better tools to monitor progress,” she said in a statement on eve of the World Science Day for Peace and Development.
She said all Governments recognise today the power of science to provide key answers for the better management of water, for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, for the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, to tackle climate change and disasters, to foster innovation and to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality
“To make the most of this power, we need to understand more clearly the global landscape of science and we need better tools to monitor progress,” she said, adding “We launch this new edition on World Science Day for Peace and Development, to highlight the rising focus on science, technology and innovation by countries at all levels of development.”
Growing concerns with recurrent drought, flooding, hurricanes and other natural phenomena have led Governments to adopt strategies at both national and regional levels to protect agriculture, reduce disaster risks and diversify national energy mixes, she said.
Rising investment in the sciences reflects greater recognition of the need to build green societies along with green economies, bringing together changes in policy and legislation as well as values and behaviours.
Science, technology and innovation is essential here, and we must do everything to support societies across the world, on every continent, to create and share knowledge, she said.
The 2030 Agenda of SDG, with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, calls for new efforts to build robust national science, technology and innovation policies and systems, to facilitate the transfer of technology and solutions, to which UNESCO is fully committed, she observed.