In the first panel, the presenters Ms. Deborah Sills, Global Public Sector Consulting Leader at Deloitte, Prof. Amit Kapoor, Honorary Chairman at the Institute for Competitiveness in India, Ms. Ana Peltola, Acting Director of UNCTAD, Dr. Rutger Hoekstra, Associate Professor at Leiden University and Mr. Thierry Watrin, Green Economy and Climate Change Advisor to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Rwanda, deliberated on the positive and negative aspects of GDP and expounded on the idea and possibility of a kind of measurement system that complemented the GDP. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the UN Statistics Division. The panel agreed that while GDP remained important, there was a need for a new approach in measuring SDGs implementation through a multi-angle perspective.  

In the second panel, the presenters Mr. Olav Kjørven, Senior Director for Strategy of EAT Foundation; Mr. Rikin Gandhi, CEO and Co-founder of Digital Green; Dr Inbal Becker-Reshef, Program Director of NASA Harvest; Dr Ravi Kanbur, Co-Chair of Food Systems Economics Commission; and Ms. Corinna Hawkes, Director of Food Systems and Food Safety, FAO addressed the topic of global food security and transformation to sustainable and inclusive agriculture and food systems. Ambassador Ferrero y de Loma-Osorio from the UN Committee on World Food Security moderated the panel discussion. The conversation drew attention to the current unprecedent crisis of food security that affected all dimensions of human development. The panel concluded that measuring this jointly with the impacts of climate change requires comprehensive, scientific approach.

In the afternoon panel, the panelists Dr Claire Melamed, CEO, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data; Dr Riko Oki, Deputy Director, Earth Observation Research Center of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency; Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development of the University of Ghana; Dr Samira Asma, Assistant Director-General, Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact of the World Health Organization; and Dr Salvatore Arico, CEO of the International Science Council addressed the General Assembly. The discussion was moderated by Johannes Cullman Chief Scientific Advisor to the President of the UN General Assembly. The panel was of the view that data was of utmost importance for the application of science. Panellists underscored that cooperation between scientists and policymakers was imperative, especially to improve the validation of sustainable development options and to establish a mechanism to support science-based policy development.  

At the closing of the informal plenary, the Permanent Representative of India, the Permanent Representative of Belgium, and the Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa announced the launch of the Group of Friends of Science for Action, with the support of International Science Council. Building on ongoing initiatives, the Group of Friends on Science for Action will provide an important push to promote and cultivate a culture and practice of science-informed discussions and cooperation in the UN. Science is an essential component in addressing current interrelated problems. Avoiding and responding to global epidemics, addressing deepening inequalities, reversing environmental degradation, tackling climate change and water emergencies, utilizing technological change for the common good, and other challenges necessitate ambitious global cooperation and robust scientific data. A more powerful and adaptable link between research, politics, and society will benefit the United Nations and its Member States. 

The Group of Friends of Science for Action are providing an informal venue for debate and open exchange between countries that take the lead in applying science in policy and decision-making to facilitate peer-learning, the exchange of best practices, and the creation of opportunities for bilateral cooperation. Moreover, the group will provide an informal setting for interaction with experts on pressing issues essential to present or forthcoming negotiations and deliberations in New York where scientific knowledge, synthesis, and recommendations are required, and generate a demand-led scientific dialogue.  

The Group of Friends is an informal platform for Member States to address the role of science within the UN, as well as to strengthen Member States’ involvement in scientific briefings important to UN discussions and scientists. 

• Letter from the President of the General Assembly – Scientific Briefing April 12 – Summary and Information Package
• PGA Statement on the launch of Group of Friends on Science for Action
• Press Release: Second science briefing to General Assembly ends with launch of Group of Friends, plans for greater role of science in decision-making
• PGA remarks to closing of 2nd GA science briefing
• PGA remarks to opening of 2nd GA science briefing
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly – Scientific Briefing – Information Note
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly – Concept Note – Scientific Briefing – April 12
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly – Science Briefing – April 12, 2023