CSD-13: Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting
Closing Statement by Scientific and Technological Community Major Group
(New York, 4 March 2005 pm)
Mr. Chairperson,
Thank you for this opportunity and for the other opportunities we had throughout the week to
actively participate.
In a number of interventions made by governments, the other Major Groups and
representatives of international intergovernmental organizations, the important role of science
and technology in implementing the water, sanitation and human settlements goals was
stressed. The Draft Chair?s Text reflects this to some extent. However, we think that the role
of science and technology as an important cross-cutting area and as a ?means of
implementation? is at this stage still insufficie ntly addressed.
In particular, we would like to propose that there should be recognition in the CSD -13
outcome of ?priorities for action? in science and technology related to freshwater, sanitation
and human settlements. Let me restate here the proposal of the Scientific and Technological
Community that these priorities should be in the following three areas:
· Building enhanced national and regional human and institutional capacities in science
and technology, in particular in developing countries that still lack these capacities;
· Strengthening capacity to monitor all major aspects of freshwater through in situ and
space observations, and to design integrated indicator sets;
· Filling significant gaps in knowledge, in particular in interdisciplinary knowledge for
practical problem solving, and improving systems of knowledge sharing, including on
clean technologies, with particular attention to low -cost technologies.
Our Community is committed to the implementation of these priorities worldwide. However,
this can only materialize successfully in close cooperation with, and through strong support
by, governments. We invite governments to register this support in the CSD-13 policy
outcome. On our part, we will use CSD-13 to also seek strengthened partnerships with the
other Major Groups .
Thank you.
