The International Science Council (ISC) has partnered with the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP), University College London, on an independent research project looking into how science feeds into the United Nations (UN) system. The report highlights opportunities for scientific inputs and advice to become more systematized in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In 2021, the ISC mandated a Steering Group to strategize its engagement with the intergovernmental system and amplify the voice of science in global policymaking. This led to the establishment of the “Group of Friends on Science for Action” (GoF), a coalition of UN Member States aiming to ensure that the UN and Member States have access to actionable knowledge for the purposes of evidence-based decision making.
As parts of its efforts to strengthen the role of science in informing deliberations and decision-making in the multilateral system, the ISC is seeking to analyze the needs of the UNGA for scientific advice, review past and current science advice mechanisms, and discuss possible steps to establish a more permanent advisory mechanism. To this end, the ISC commissioned an independent research project by a group from STEaPP at University College London, aimed at mapping the current landscape of science advice at the UNGA and identifying opportunities to enhance evidence-based decision-making within this global body.
The study “Strengthening Science Advice at the United Nations General Assembly” draws information from primary interview data and secondary literature review data, highlighting insights into formal and informal channels of evidence provision, challenges within the current science advice mechanisms, and potential strategies for establishing a robust, institutionalized science advice framework at the UNGA. The data and subsequent report recommendations suggest that the establishment of a centralized and ongoing arrangement for scientific inputs and advice would facilitate more effective integration of evidence into UNGA deliberations and decision-making processes.
Key Recommendations for Action
Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst on Unsplash
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