4 March 2005UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 1 Research, Monitoring, Assessment and Policy: All Links Must be Strong Thomas Rosswall Presentation to the UNESCO/ICSU/TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 4 March 2005

UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 2 Science for Policy Policy decisions must be based on best available knowledgePolicy decisions must be based on best available knowledge Scientific knowledge is important, but traditional knowledge must increasingly be acknowledgedScientific knowledge is important, but traditional knowledge must increasingly be acknowledged Scientific agendas should be developed through participatory approachesScientific agendas should be developed through participatory approaches

4 March 2005UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 3 Science for Policy (II) Scientific research is necessary, but not sufficient for policy developmentScientific research is necessary, but not sufficient for policy development Monitoring is necessary for both science and policyMonitoring is necessary for both science and policy Assessments have played increasingly important roles to link science to policyAssessments have played increasingly important roles to link science to policy Policy development slowly involves civil society and the private sectorPolicy development slowly involves civil society and the private sector

4 March 2005UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 4 Monitoring Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) adopted by the 3 rd Earth Observation SummitGlobal Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) adopted by the 3 rd Earth Observation Summit UN agencies and ICSU currently sponsor GCOS, GOOS, and GTOSUN agencies and ICSU currently sponsor GCOS, GOOS, and GTOS Importance of also focussing on socio- economic dataImportance of also focussing on socio- economic data Quality control, data centres (WDCs, etc.) and open accessQuality control, data centres (WDCs, etc.) and open access

4 March 2005UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 5 Assessments Often initiated from international research programmes and summary of knowledge (e.g., SCOPE)Often initiated from international research programmes and summary of knowledge (e.g., SCOPE) Intergov. Panel on Climate ChangeIntergov. Panel on Climate Change International Arctic Climate AssessmentInternational Arctic Climate Assessment Millennium Ecosystem AssessmentMillennium Ecosystem Assessment International Assessment of Agricultural Research and Technology for DevelopmentInternational Assessment of Agricultural Research and Technology for Development

4 March 2005UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 6 Assessments (II) Governments and other stakeholders cannot see the forest for all the treesGovernments and other stakeholders cannot see the forest for all the trees Transparency and quality of peer review is paramountTransparency and quality of peer review is paramount There is assessment fatigue in the science communityThere is assessment fatigue in the science community There is a need to balance legitimate concerns of governments to own the process with necessity of multi-stakeholder involvement (hybrid model)There is a need to balance legitimate concerns of governments to own the process with necessity of multi-stakeholder involvement (hybrid model)

4 March 2005UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 7 Science for Policy Need for internationally planned and coordinated research programmesNeed for internationally planned and coordinated research programmes The scientific and technical communities must underpin development of global observing systemsThe scientific and technical communities must underpin development of global observing systems Research and monitoring provides the basis for assessmentsResearch and monitoring provides the basis for assessments The S&T community must be involved in major policy fora (e.g., WSSD, WSIS)The S&T community must be involved in major policy fora (e.g., WSSD, WSIS)

4 March 2005UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 8 Scientists for Policy What is the division of responsibility between governmental (UNESCO, UNEP, etc.) and NGOs (ICSU. TWAS, etc.) in relations to: - International Research Programmes - Monitoring Systems - Assessments - Policy fora (e.g, WSSD, WSIS)?What is the division of responsibility between governmental (UNESCO, UNEP, etc.) and NGOs (ICSU. TWAS, etc.) in relations to: - International Research Programmes - Monitoring Systems - Assessments - Policy fora (e.g, WSSD, WSIS)?

4 March 2005UNESCO-ICSU-TWAS WCS Follow-up Symposium 9 All links must be strong Better collaboration UNESCO-ICSU for internationally planned and coordinated researchBetter collaboration UNESCO-ICSU for internationally planned and coordinated research Ensure proper involvement of the science community in the design and development of GEOSS through ICSU an othersEnsure proper involvement of the science community in the design and development of GEOSS through ICSU an others Strengthen the science base of UNEP as a basis for assessmentsStrengthen the science base of UNEP as a basis for assessments Better ICSU-TWAS-UNESCO coordination in preparation for policy foraBetter ICSU-TWAS-UNESCO coordination in preparation for policy fora

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