Major Group: Science & Technology
Statement by the Scientific and Technological Community Major Group
Second Intersessional Meeting for Rio+20
15 December 2011
The Scientific and Technological Community worldwide proposes the following priority action items
for Rio+20:
Green economy, in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication:
The Rio+20 outcome should include a call for the establishment of a mechanism for international
scientific collaboration and internationally coordinated research on major sustainable development
challenges, building on existing international scientific cooperation bodies and programmes.
There should be commitments in the Rio+20 outcome to significantly increased large-scale
investments in targeted science (natural, social, economic, health and engineering sciences, and
humanities), technology and innovation, for achieving sustainable development, the transition to a
green economy and societal transformations.
To this end, Rio+20 should also call for targeted capacity building in all domains of science and
technology, including emphasis on strong support to developing countries and attention to gender
equality issues, as well as knowledge and technology sharing.
Also, Rio+20 should call for new scientifically sound integrated indicators going beyond GDP to
enable us to better monitor progress to a green economy.
Institutional framework for sustainable development:
Recommendations and decisions by Rio+20 to improve the institutional framework for sustainable
development must include strengthening of science-policy links at all levels, and strengthening the
science-base within all relevant institutions.
New and emerging challenges:
Interdisciplinary and scientifically rigorous research, monitoring, observing, and indicators will be
needed for all priority areas, such as food security, water security, energy for all and others. Our
community has prepared Policy Briefs for governments and policymakers on a number of priority
areas - based on the best available knowledge.
Finally, a major goal of Rio+20 and sustainable development overall must be to respect planetary
boundaries.
Second Intersessional Meeting for Rio+20
15 December 2011
The Scientific and Technological Community worldwide proposes the following priority action items
for Rio+20:
Green economy, in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication:
The Rio+20 outcome should include a call for the establishment of a mechanism for international
scientific collaboration and internationally coordinated research on major sustainable development
challenges, building on existing international scientific cooperation bodies and programmes.
There should be commitments in the Rio+20 outcome to significantly increased large-scale
investments in targeted science (natural, social, economic, health and engineering sciences, and
humanities), technology and innovation, for achieving sustainable development, the transition to a
green economy and societal transformations.
To this end, Rio+20 should also call for targeted capacity building in all domains of science and
technology, including emphasis on strong support to developing countries and attention to gender
equality issues, as well as knowledge and technology sharing.
Also, Rio+20 should call for new scientifically sound integrated indicators going beyond GDP to
enable us to better monitor progress to a green economy.
Institutional framework for sustainable development:
Recommendations and decisions by Rio+20 to improve the institutional framework for sustainable
development must include strengthening of science-policy links at all levels, and strengthening the
science-base within all relevant institutions.
New and emerging challenges:
Interdisciplinary and scientifically rigorous research, monitoring, observing, and indicators will be
needed for all priority areas, such as food security, water security, energy for all and others. Our
community has prepared Policy Briefs for governments and policymakers on a number of priority
areas - based on the best available knowledge.
Finally, a major goal of Rio+20 and sustainable development overall must be to respect planetary
boundaries.