World Conference on Science

World Conference on Science

The World Conference on Science convened in June 1999 in Budapest and brought together representatives from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Development Programme, national delegations from United States, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Brazil and regional blocs such as European Union, African Union, Organization of American States alongside scientific bodies including International Council for Science, World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, and leading research institutions like Max Planck Society, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Royal Society, Academia Mexicana de Ciencias to address global scientific priorities and governance. The conference produced a major consensus document and set an agenda linking science policy, research capacity, and international cooperation involving stakeholders such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Academy of Sciences, InterAcademy Panel on International Issues, Council of Europe and civil society groups like Greenpeace, World Wide Fund for Nature, Science for Peace and Security.

Background and objectives

The conference arose from dialogues at venues including United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro Summit of 1992, World Summit on Sustainable Development, and consultations by UNESCO General Conference and UNDP. Objectives emphasized equitable access to scientific knowledge, capacity building in regions represented by African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and strengthening links among research organizations such as International Science Council, European Research Council, National Science Foundation, Russian Academy of Sciences and universities like Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Tokyo, University of São Paulo. The agenda reflected debates shaped by cases such as Chernobyl disaster, HIV/AIDS pandemic, Ozone layer depletion and initiatives like Human Genome Project, Global Environment Facility, Millennium Development Goals.

Organisation and participants

The conference was organized by UNESCO in partnership with UNDP and drew delegations from member states including Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. Scientific and professional bodies present included International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Meteorological Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Labour Organization, International Council of Scientific Unions, European Molecular Biology Organization, African Academy of Sciences and universities and research institutes like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institut Pasteur, Salk Institute, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Weizmann Institute of Science. Non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International, Oxfam International, Médecins Sans Frontières, Friends of the Earth International and scientific networks including Global Young Academy and Society for Conservation Biology participated. The secretariat coordinated thematic panels on topics linked to work by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, International Telecommunication Union, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Intellectual Property Organization, and national science ministries.

Key outcomes and declarations

Participants endorsed a comprehensive declaration and policy framework advocating principles aligned with efforts by World Health Organization on HIV/AIDS pandemic, data sharing practices similar to Human Genome Project, and ethics frameworks reminiscent of debates at Nuremberg Code-related forums and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. The conference produced commitments on capacity-building modeled after programs by World Bank and UNDP, and called for partnerships among funding agencies like National Institutes of Health, European Commission, Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and regional development banks including African Development Bank. Declarations emphasized open access to scientific knowledge paralleling initiatives by Public Library of Science, collaboration on research infrastructure akin to CERN, and respect for indigenous knowledge systems recognized by United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and organizations such as International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.

Implementation and follow-up initiatives

Follow-up mechanisms involved coordination with institutions such as UNESCO Science Sector, UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe, European Science Foundation, International Council for Science, and funding collaborations with World Bank programs and bilateral agencies like United States Agency for International Development, Department for International Development (UK), Agence Française de Développement. Specific initiatives echoed models from CERN, Human Genome Project, Global Biodiversity Information Facility and included capacity-building networks, fellowships via institutions like Royal Society, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and creation of regional centers and partnerships with universities such as University of Cape Town, University of Nairobi, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Monitoring and review cycles referenced processes used by Millennium Development Goals and later Sustainable Development Goals.

Impact and criticism

Supporters cite strengthened links among agencies like UNESCO, UNDP, WHO, research councils including National Science Foundation and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, increased funding collaborations, and elevated profiles for science diplomacy involving actors such as International Atomic Energy Agency and European Commission. Critics argued that outcomes were diffuse compared with targeted programs like Human Genome Project or institutional reforms such as European Research Area; they pointed to persistent disparities highlighted in reports by World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and civil society critiques from Amnesty International, Oxfam International, Friends of the Earth International regarding intellectual property regimes promoted by World Intellectual Property Organization and bilateral trade negotiations involving World Trade Organization. Debates continued in forums including UNESCO General Conference, InterAcademy Partnership meetings, and national science policy reviews in countries such as Brazil, China, India, South Africa and Mexico about how to translate declarations into measurable outcomes.

Category:International conferences