Major Group: Science & Technology
IPM of CSD-15
Statement by the Scientific and Technological Community
IPM Opening Session 26 February 2007
Mr. Chairman,
It is inarguable that science, engineering and technology are essential elements of
making a transition to more sustainable energy systems, of mitigating and adapting to
climate change, of reducing air pollution, and of enhancing industrial development in
a sustainable manner. Jointly, we have a responsibility to ensure a significant
strengthening of science, engineering and technology efforts which contribute directly
to the solutions of the world?s most pressing sustainable development challenges.
Currently existing technological options are insufficient for meeting the world?s
growing energy needs in an affordable and sustainable manner. And present levels
and directions of energy R&D investments are not at all adequate for ensuring that the
needed technological advances occur.
Consequently, we recommend as a first priority for action, to massively enhance
public and private-sector support for developing and deploying a wide array of clean
and carbon free energy technologies. The choice of optimal technologies for any
particular country will depend on many factors. But for all countries, increasing
energy efficiency and conservation, and increasing the share of renewables in the
energy mix, should be particularly urgent priorities. Also needed are less polluting
and less carbon-intensive fossil fuel energy systems, and secure nuclear energy
systems.
These investments must be made now, if we hope to see a new generation of
technologies for electricity, heating and cooling, transportation fuels, and other
essential energy services, reach the market in the coming years. Such efforts must
involve partnerships between government and the private sector, and significant
international cooperation for sharing knowledge, technology, and capital.
To help guide effective and coherent R&D investment strategies, the scientific and
technological community has set up in 2006 an International Science Panel on
Renewable Energies. Moreover, our community is organizing an International
Conference on Engineering for Sustainable Energy in Developing Countries, to take
place in mid-2007 in Brazil.
Mr Chairman, Climate change is real, and it is being caused by human activities. This was
confirmed by the latest report from the IPCC. While strong public policies and economic
incentives are urgently needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in order to mitigate
climate change impacts, action is also needed to implement strategies to adapt to the
consequences of climate change, and to limit its socio-economic costs for societies
worldwide.
At the same time, we must continue to improve our scientific understanding of the climate
and the Earth system, to refine our predictive tools and reduce uncertainties in projections of
future climate and its impacts, particularly at the regional level. In this respect, important
priorities during the coming years are:
? Countries to enhance support for long-term observations of the Earth and climate
system, thus enabling the global environmental observing systems, including the
Global Climate Observing System, to become fully operational, and the Global Earth
Observing System of Systems to be implemented;
? Countries to vigorously pursue climate change related research, notably through the
World Climate Research Programme and related global environmental change
research programmes;
Mr. Chairman, Air pollution represents a serious, and in many places growing problem.
Effective air quality management requires that all nations maintain a strong scientific,
engineering and technological foundation for assessing air quality status and impacts; for
setting emission standards and ambient air quality objectives; and for designing and
implementing pollution control strategies and technologies.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, a better harnessing of science and technology for addressing the
problems dealt with in this CSD cycle will only be possible on the basis of a massive effort
aimed at building the needed critical mass of scientific, engineering and technological
capacity in all regions of the world. Governmental and non-governmental actors must take
action to reduce the North-South gap in S&T capacity which continues to widen. South-South
cooperation must also be increased, as an effective means of capacity building. The S&T
Community is committed to work nationally and internationally with governments, the private
sector, all our Major Groups partners, and all relevant stakeholders towards implementing
scientifically sound and thoroughly engineered solutions to the problems address in this CSD
cycle.
Statement by the Scientific and Technological Community
IPM Opening Session 26 February 2007
Mr. Chairman,
It is inarguable that science, engineering and technology are essential elements of
making a transition to more sustainable energy systems, of mitigating and adapting to
climate change, of reducing air pollution, and of enhancing industrial development in
a sustainable manner. Jointly, we have a responsibility to ensure a significant
strengthening of science, engineering and technology efforts which contribute directly
to the solutions of the world?s most pressing sustainable development challenges.
Currently existing technological options are insufficient for meeting the world?s
growing energy needs in an affordable and sustainable manner. And present levels
and directions of energy R&D investments are not at all adequate for ensuring that the
needed technological advances occur.
Consequently, we recommend as a first priority for action, to massively enhance
public and private-sector support for developing and deploying a wide array of clean
and carbon free energy technologies. The choice of optimal technologies for any
particular country will depend on many factors. But for all countries, increasing
energy efficiency and conservation, and increasing the share of renewables in the
energy mix, should be particularly urgent priorities. Also needed are less polluting
and less carbon-intensive fossil fuel energy systems, and secure nuclear energy
systems.
These investments must be made now, if we hope to see a new generation of
technologies for electricity, heating and cooling, transportation fuels, and other
essential energy services, reach the market in the coming years. Such efforts must
involve partnerships between government and the private sector, and significant
international cooperation for sharing knowledge, technology, and capital.
To help guide effective and coherent R&D investment strategies, the scientific and
technological community has set up in 2006 an International Science Panel on
Renewable Energies. Moreover, our community is organizing an International
Conference on Engineering for Sustainable Energy in Developing Countries, to take
place in mid-2007 in Brazil.
Mr Chairman, Climate change is real, and it is being caused by human activities. This was
confirmed by the latest report from the IPCC. While strong public policies and economic
incentives are urgently needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in order to mitigate
climate change impacts, action is also needed to implement strategies to adapt to the
consequences of climate change, and to limit its socio-economic costs for societies
worldwide.
At the same time, we must continue to improve our scientific understanding of the climate
and the Earth system, to refine our predictive tools and reduce uncertainties in projections of
future climate and its impacts, particularly at the regional level. In this respect, important
priorities during the coming years are:
? Countries to enhance support for long-term observations of the Earth and climate
system, thus enabling the global environmental observing systems, including the
Global Climate Observing System, to become fully operational, and the Global Earth
Observing System of Systems to be implemented;
? Countries to vigorously pursue climate change related research, notably through the
World Climate Research Programme and related global environmental change
research programmes;
Mr. Chairman, Air pollution represents a serious, and in many places growing problem.
Effective air quality management requires that all nations maintain a strong scientific,
engineering and technological foundation for assessing air quality status and impacts; for
setting emission standards and ambient air quality objectives; and for designing and
implementing pollution control strategies and technologies.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, a better harnessing of science and technology for addressing the
problems dealt with in this CSD cycle will only be possible on the basis of a massive effort
aimed at building the needed critical mass of scientific, engineering and technological
capacity in all regions of the world. Governmental and non-governmental actors must take
action to reduce the North-South gap in S&T capacity which continues to widen. South-South
cooperation must also be increased, as an effective means of capacity building. The S&T
Community is committed to work nationally and internationally with governments, the private
sector, all our Major Groups partners, and all relevant stakeholders towards implementing
scientifically sound and thoroughly engineered solutions to the problems address in this CSD
cycle.