SciDevNet: Draft text for small island summit ‘lacks science’

As negotiators prepare to gather at the UN headquarters in New York next week (23-27 June) to finalise the draft outcome document for a forthcoming summit on small island developing states, some experts are concerned it lacks references to science.

The document is part of ongoing UN discussions over how small island developing states (SIDS) can achieve sustainable development. The finalised version will be used as a framework during the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to be held in Samoa later this year (1-4 September).

As it stands, the draft only makes a few references to science and research. For example, it pledges to provide “assistance to SIDS in undertaking marine scientific research and developing their technological capacity, including through the establishment of dedicated regional oceanographic centres”, and to “enhance regional and inter-regional SIDS-SIDS cooperation for research and technological development” in renewable energy.

But science is only mentioned in connection with coastal zone management, energy and marine resources, and is omitted from “many other relevant sectors such as agriculture, forestry, health and water” says Gerd Rücker, senior scientific officer at the German Aerospace Center.

http://www.scidev.net/global/policy/news/draft-text-for-small-island-su…