18 October 2013: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reported on the appointment of the 26 members of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board. The Board will seek to influence and shape action by the international community to advance sustainable development and eradicate poverty. The first session of the Board will take place at the beginning of 2014.

UNESCO, which will host the Secretariat, has indicated that the Board will provide advice on science, technology and innovation (STI) for sustainable development to the UN Secretary-General and to Executive Heads of UN organizations, aiming to ensure that up-to-date and rigorous science is appropriately reflected in high-level policy discussions within the UN system.

The initiative derives from the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP). The GSP’s 2012 report, ‘Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing,’ recommends the launch of a “major global scientific initiative to strengthen the interface between policy and science.” The fields covered by the Board include: basic sciences; engineering and technology; social sciences; humanities, ethics, health, economic, behavioral, and agricultural sciences; and environmental sciences.

Board members will serve pro bono, and will act in their personal capacity, providing advice on an independent basis. They will serve for two years with the possibility of renewal for an additional two-year term.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted his decision to establish the Board during the inaugural meeting of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) on 24 September 2013. [UNESCO Press Release] [Webcast of UN Secretary-General’s Announcement] [Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing]