CILAC seeks to address the issue, its challenges, and opportunities from a regional perspective, in preparation for the fourth edition of the Forum, to be held from December 2 to 4 in Colombia.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed the period 2024-2033 as the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development., recognizing the challenges developing countries face in accessing modern science and technology. The purpose of this call is to highlight the importance of reducing gaps between and within countries, as well as strengthening scientific financing and capacity-building. This decade offers a key opportunity to highlight the role of science in supporting sustainable development in its three dimensions and addressing complex global challenges, in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future for all.
In this context, the UN Assembly invited UNESCO to lead the implementation of the Decade, and all Member States and relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant organizations and stakeholders (academia, civil society organizations, the private sector) to recognize and raise awareness of the importance of all sciences for sustainable development. It also called on all to actively participate in promoting a coordinated, collaborative, and science-based approach to providing policymakers with the evidence-based analysis and data necessary to effectively establish and implement policies in a manner that leaves no one behind.
Among the objectives of the Decade, the following stand out:
- Involve all social actors in the advancement of science.
- Empowering the global community through scientific literacy.
- Produce applicable scientific knowledge to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Transform national science, technology and innovation (STI) systems to better respond to scientific and societal needs.
- Using open science to democratize scientific processes and access to knowledge.
Within this framework, UNESCO, as a regional partner of the CILAC Forum and in charge of its Executive Secretariat, has incorporated this decade as the central axis of the activities to be carried out during its fourth edition, in San Andrés Island, Colombia, from December 2 to 4, 2024. Registration for the Forum, whether in person or virtually, is available here.
During the CILAC Forum, multiple sessions with leading figures from around the world will address this cross-cutting theme, including the Forum's first plenary session on December 2 at 11:00 a.m. (Colombia time), where an in-depth presentation will be made on the implications of this Decade and the opportunities it presents for Latin America and the Caribbean. Following this session (12:15 p.m.), a panel of ministers and high-level authorities from around the world will address this topic.
“Both the Decade and the CILAC Forum call for awareness of the relevance and role of science in the development of nations and the well-being of people. The global challenges described in the 2030 Agenda demand innovative solutions based on new science-based technologies. This is where the importance of supporting more and better science lies. ", says Guillermo Anlló, Coordinator of the CILAC Forum.
The International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development is just one of the six thematic axes of the CILAC Forum. To promote dialogue and participation, various initiatives have been presented throughout 2024. Policy Brief and virtual meetings addressing these themes.
For inquiries regarding the organization of the CILAC Forum in Colombia, please contact forocilac@unesco.org.
CILAC is an initiative promoted by the IDB, SEGIB, OEI, RICYT, ECLAC, AUGM, CUIB, and UNESCO—which serves as Executive Secretariat—as regional partners. For its fourth edition, the Government of Colombia is serving as the host country.