UN Scientific Advisory Board

“Science has become a powerful geopolitical challenge”: Marilyne Andersen, Director General of GESDA, in Le Temps. (In French) https://lnkd.in/e-cdRc2w #ScienceDiplomacy #GESDASummit Marilyne Andersen

🌍 GESDA Summit 2025 – Governing the Future: Science, Power, and the New Rules of Engagement As global power dynamics shift and scientific advances accelerate, how can states prepare for emerging challenges? At the GESDA - Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Summit in Geneva, global leaders explored this question in a fireside chat on how anticipatory governance can help societies navigate an era of rapid scientific and geopolitical change. 🎙️ Moderated by Ayaka Suzuki (Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General / Secretariat of the UN Scientific Advisory Board), the discussion brought together:  🔹 Sabine Monauni (Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein),   🔹 Andrzej Szeptycki (Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Poland), and   🔹 Thomas Biersteker (Senior Fellow, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)). 🧭 The conversation examined how science is becoming a currency of power, from semiconductor investments and data infrastructures to AI rulebooks and health data frameworks, and how anticipatory governance can turn pressure into preparedness. Panelists discussed how states can “act before crisis,” aligning standards, datasets, and capabilities to strengthen resilience and foresight in policymaking. 🤝 In the spirit of GESDA’s 2025 theme, “The Age of Possibility: Science, Sovereignty and Shared Futures,” the session underscored that governing the future means balancing openness with capability, building sovereign strengths while sustaining multilateral cooperation. 🔗 Last year, the UN Scientific Advisory Board reaffirmed this vision in its Statement on Trust in Science, highlighting the need for integrity, dialogue, and shared responsibility in global science governance. #GESDA2025 #ScienceDiplomacy #SciencePolicy #UN #Multilateralism #ScienceAdvice #TrustInScience #OpenScience #AnticipatoryGovernance 

🌐 GESDA Summit 2025 – From Science Anticipation to Science Diplomacy At the GESDA - Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Science Breakthrough Radar High-Level Review Workshop in Geneva, global leaders in science and diplomacy came together to explore how anticipating future discoveries can strengthen multilateral cooperation and inform smarter global decisions. 🎤 Prof. Michael Hengartner (President, ETH Zürich Board), Dr. Sabina Leonelli (Technical University of Munich), and Ayaka Suzuki (Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General / The UN Scientific Advisory Board Secretariat) discussed how tools like the Radar connect frontier science and diplomacy, bridging ethics, innovation, and long-term vision. ✨ Five years on, the Radar has become a powerful instrument for identifying scientific breakthroughs that could transform our societies and planet. Now, under the leadership of Prof. Stephen Toope (President and CEO, CIFAR), an independent High-Level Review is assessing how to make it even more impactful and inclusive. 🌍 By fostering trust, transparency, and early dialogue, science anticipation continues to serve as diplomacy in advance, helping the world navigate the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. #GESDA2025 #ScienceDiplomacy #SciencePolicy #UN #Multilateralism #ScienceAdvice #OpenScience #UNSAB #ScienceAnticipation 

🔬 Weekly Science Long Read 🧪🌦️ At the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark reminder: “No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all.” He noted that disaster-related deaths are six times lower in countries with strong early-warning systems, and even 24 hours’ notice can reduce damage by up to 30%. Since launching the Early Warnings for All initiative in 2022, more than half of all countries now have multi-hazard alert systems — yet major gaps persist, especially in developing nations. 🌍 Climate extremes are accelerating. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo urged governments to harness “climate intelligence and technological advances to build a more resilient future.” Over the past five decades, weather, water and climate-related hazards have claimed over two million lives, 90% in developing countries. 💰 Financing resilience and adaptation. António Guterres called for a “surge in financing” to reach every community and pressed developed countries to double climate adaptation funding to $40 billion this year. Ahead of COP30 Brazil in Belém, Brazil, he urged world leaders to agree on a credible plan to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for developing countries. 🧭 A call for integrity and truth in climate science. He also highlighted the Global Initiative on Climate Change Information Integrity, warning against disinformation and greenwashing: “Scientists and researchers should never fear telling the truth.” 🌐 The message is clear: early-warning systems save lives — but only if backed by global solidarity, credible finance, and trust in science. 🔗 Read the full UN News story in the comments.

“No country is safe from fires, floods, storms and heatwaves.” Addressing the World Meteorological Organization Congress in Geneva on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed: “Early-warning systems work. And they’re finally getting the attention — and investment — they deserve.” He also highlighted the urgent need to fight climate mis- and disinformation, online harassment, and greenwashing. “Scientists and researchers should never fear telling the truth,” he said. https://lnkd.in/ew9rysQs

It is time to register for the 13th World Conference of Science Journalists (#WCSJ2025) which will be held in Africa for the first time. If you are a science journalist or science communicator or a scientist wanting to know more about communicating science, we’d love you to join us from 1st December to 5th December in Pretoria, South Africa. Our programme (https://lnkd.in/dD_jp2GU) includes speakers from around the world and is relevant, interesting, enlightening and engaging. The conference is organised by the South African Science Journalists’ Association (SASJA) and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA), an initiative and entity of the National Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The WCSJ gives science journalists and their stakeholders an opportunity to interact, share ideas and information, stimulate debate and discussion and form solutions regarding how science journalists can contribute to building resilience amongst humanity given the challenges we face. Don’t miss out, click on the link to register now! Registration – WCSJ 2025 https://lnkd.in/datuFazg @CSIR @SASJA @SDCfA @SANEF @DSTI #WCSJ2025 #Science #Journalism

⏰ One week to go! In just seven days, Southern Voice’s 2025 conference will open its doors in São Paulo, Brazil. We are bringing together brilliant minds from across the Global South and beyond to exchange ideas, challenge power imbalances, and shape a more equitable future for global development. This is a one-of-a-king gathering of more than 70 think tanks from 30+ countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, in addition to key Global North partners. We are counting down the days to transformative dialogue and collaboration, and to reimagine the global development architecture – together. See you very, very soon! 🇧🇷✨ #SVC2025 #SVConference

The UN emblem is a symbol of hope, peace and unity around the world. As the United Nations marks 80 years of working on behalf of humanity, we remain committed to advancing peace, dignity and equality for all on a healthy planet. https://www.un.org/en/UN80