General Assembly - UN Documents

A/CONF.216/PC/8
democracy, implementation of a common market under the East Africa Community
and implementation of a programme for local government reforms were cited by
another as factors enhancing success. 91
54. Major groups also highlighted their influence on success factors, noting that in
India and the Russian Federation strong emphasis is placed upon literacy and
education of young people as future stakeholders and decision makers. 92 The
Barbados Workers’ Union successfully urged the Government of Barbados to invest
more in agriculture, halt using farmland for other uses and support food
production. 93
C. Challenges
55. Strengthening links among scientific research, education and policy through,
inter alia, increasing political commitment to science-based education, increasing
funding for research and innovation, emphasizing policy decisions based on both
natural and social sciences, supporting technology development and transfer,
maintaining the momentum of the United Nations Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development 94 and stimulating non-formal learning, especially by
youth-led organizations, 95 were all recommended. One Member State reported
recent success in increasing the number of science and engineering graduates, and
their subsequent contributions to sustainable development. 96
56. A strengthened science-policy interface building on the experience with
multilateral environmental agreements could add value in other areas. Relevant
national and regional experiences provide valuable input (e.g., national sustainable
development councils, the European Environment Agency’s European Environment:
State and Outlook 2010 consultation process, UNEP Global Environmental Outlook
and others). 97
57. International support should better coordinate research, foster collaboration
and dialogue, build partnerships and improve international governance, including
reform of the Bretton Woods institutions. Global science organizations, in
cooperation with Governments and relevant United Nations system organizations,
are taking steps to enhance the delivery of data, information and understanding on
sustainable development challenges and on solutions, but these efforts need
additional resources. 98 The United Nations system, in cooperation with other
international organizations, is working with Governments to strengthen the
statistical base for sustainable development decision-making through refinement of
the System of Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting.
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91 United Republic of Tanzania.
92 World Aquarium and Conservation for the Oceans Foundation.
93 ITUC.
94 ICSU, Natural Resources Defense Council.
95 Children and youth major group, through the Commission on Sustainable Development youth
caucus.
96 Croatia.
97 Common response of the European Union and its member States.
98 ICSU.
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