Building Bridges Through Science Diplomacy: Accelerating Progress Towards Sustainable Development

The Summit of the Future (September 2024) is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address the knowledge-action gap in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including to the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Charter, and foster a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives. At the same time, there is growing awareness among Member States and across the UN system of the vital role of science as a critical, cross-cutting tool to support multilevel, multisectoral action across the entire multilateral agenda.

Science, including both natural and social sciences, is an invaluable tool for enhancing evidence-informed decision-making and collective action, and is essential to accelerating progress on shared global challenges, including to advance human rights and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Science also has long been a global enterprise underpinned by universal principles and plays a valuable role in strengthening international relations in support of international peace and security.

Cross-national scientific collaborations support track two diplomacy to help build relationships across borders, achieve common understanding around shared questions, and identify cooperative approaches to global challenges. Science in support of diplomacy and multilateral decision-making is all the more urgent in order to catalyze effective, accelerated, and sustained action on the 2030 Agenda during this time of rapid change, instability, and polycrisis.

This side event therefore highlights and facilitates productive, action-oriented exchange on the vital role of science diplomacy in order to:

• Showcase best practices through case studies where science has strengthened multilateralism to a) respond to global challenges, including as related to human rights and sustainable development; and b) strengthen relations between countries, with examples from diverse geographical perspectives and focused on a variety of relevant issues;
• Position the central role of scientific research, education, and communication in multilateralism;
• Identify and promote concrete opportunities for science to advance diplomatic relations and multilateral decision-making in the UN System, with a particular focus on sustainable development;
• Highlight emerging leadership, recent investments, and groundbreaking support for science diplomacy to address global challenges;
• Galvanize support for deeper engagement between the global science community and multilateral decision-makers to ensure a sustainable future.

The event will be guided by three primary questions:

1. How can science serve as a force for diplomacy by catalyzing accelerated progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and facilitating solutions to multifaceted, interconnected problems that transcend national boundaries?
2. How can science support international relations, policy formulation, and societal engagement at all levels, amidst unprecedented challenges?
3. What options are available for strengthening the relationship between science and diplomacy? What gaps, priorities, best practices, and actionable strategies should be engaged by decision-makers, scientists, and other stakeholders to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through cross-border cooperation and partnership?

The event aims to target an audience of primarily decision-makers from UN Member States, as well as scientists, science outreach and communication professionals, and other stakeholders.

Run of Event

Section 1: The role of science diplomacy in building bridges and advancing sustainable development
Moderator: USG Melissa Fleming, UN Department of Global Communications

• Welcome: USG Melissa Fleming, UN Department of Global Communications
• Opening Remarks: H.E. Ambassador Mathu Joyini, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN
• Opening Remarks: H.E. Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN
• Keynote Address: Mr. Sir Peter Gluckman, President, International Science Council

Section 2: Science Diplomacy in Action
Moderator: Ms. María Estelí Jarquín, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and ISC

Lightning presentations – Case studies of science diplomacy in action

• Dr. Gihan Kamel, SESAME: Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East
• Mr. Jose Julio Casas, Secretary, Eastern Tropical Marine Corridor
• Ms. Evelina Santa-Kahle, Science Counselor, German Embassy Washington DC   Women in Science Diplomacy Association
• Dr. Tara Stoinski, President, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer for  the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

Moderated panel discussion – Implementing science diplomacy for sustainable development, enhanced international relations, and future generations

• Ms. Sandrine Dixson-Declève, President, Club of Rome
• Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough, University of Alaska and UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Dr. Mohammad Hosseini, Global Young Academy

Audience Q&A

Section 3: Closing Remarks

• Dr. Emran Mian, Director General, Digital Technologies and Telecoms, UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

This event will be live streamed.