The World Science Forum in Budapest – Science vital for sustainable development, UN chief says in message

Budapest, November 5 (MTI) – Science, technology and innovation are vital ingredients towards achieving the sustainable development goals adopted under the 2030 Agenda, the secretary general of the UN said in a statement to the World Science Forum that began in Budapest on Wednesday evening.

The statement by Ban Ki-moon was read to the audience by Flavia Schlegel, UNESCO’s Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences.

Ban Ki-moon noted that a summit held on climate change at the UN in New York in September adopted the transformative Agenda which includes 17 universal Sustainable Development Goals.

He made reference to the UNESCO’s 2015 Science Report that “provides both a baseline and springboard to take the sustainable development agenda forward,” saying that the document points to the value of sustained public investment in scientific research and development, and highlights growing collaboration to solve pressing sustainable development challenges, including climate change.

“We know that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will depend not only on the diffusion of technology but also on how well countries partner with one another in the pursuit of science to solve pressing social, environmental and economic problems,” he said.