Pact for the Future Rev-2 (Part 4): Analysis of Chapter 3 on Science, Technology and Innovation and Digital Cooperation
By Javier Surasky-
[Attention: this is a
longer than usual post]
This is our fourth post
analyzing the Second Revision of the Pact for the
Future (PfF, Rev-2). In the first one, we referred to the PfF coherence and highlighted the
“new” preamble wording, in
the second we analyzed the reforms in Chapter 1 on sustainable
development and financing for development, and the third focused on Chapter 2 on peace and security.
This new post will analyze
Chapter 4 of the PfF on “Science, technology and innovation and digital
cooperation.” As in the previous chapters, Chapter 3 is structured with an
introductory paragraph, actions, and decisions attached to each action. In
Rev-2, the Chapter includes 7 actions and 21 decisions.
To help the readers, the
text added in Rev-2 is highlighted in blue, and deletions in orange.
Chapter 3 Introduction
Paragraphs 48 to 50
introduce the chapter. A comparison with Rev-1 shows wording reforms without
relevant implications.
To start, Member States refers to opportunities “Science,
technology and innovation have the potential to accelerate the realization of
the United Nations’ aspirations,” but it only will be realized “through
international cooperation [previously, “if we act now”] to harness the benefits and take bold, ambitious
and decisive steps to bridge the growing divide within and between developed and developing countries and
accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda.” The final part produces an unusual reversal of terms: As I see it, we
need to harness science, technology and innovation opportunities to accelerate
the 2030 Agenda implementation, and no the opposite, as the paragraph said.
The States continue by
affirming that “Too many people in our world, especially in
developing countries [previously “the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries”], do not have meaningful access to critical life-changing technologies,” and then affirm that “to
leave no one behind, science, technology and innovation (…) that can make our planet more sustainable
and our countries more prosperous and resilient should be affordable and accessible to all[previously, “shared by all of humanity”].
Paragraph 49 is mainly about challenges: “We must responsibly manage
the potential risks posed by science
and technology,” with specific mentions to divides deepening and perpetuation,
“in particular gender divides, discrimination, inequality,
and adverse impacts on
human rights.” Consequently, States promise to “deepen our partnerships with
relevant stakeholders, especially the international financial institutions, the
private sector, the technical and academic communities,
and civil society”, and “ensure science, technology and innovation is a catalyst for a
more equitable, sustainable, [secure] and prosperous world for
all, in which all human rights are fully respected.” Rev-2 shows here a more vocal support for stakeholders’ engagement
and an increased attention to human rights.
Finally, paragraph 50 is somehow redundant, as
it states that “Digital and emerging
technologies, including artificial intelligence, play a
significant role as enablers of sustainable development and are
dramatically changing our world. They offer huge potential for progress for the benefit
of people and planet today and in the future,” and reaffirm Member States' determination “to realize
this potential and manage the risks through enhanced international cooperation by
promoting an inclusive, responsible and sustainable digital future.”
A mention of the Global Digital Compact as a PfF annex closes the Chapter 3 introduction.
Chapter 3 Actions and “Decisions”
Action 30. Seize the opportunities presented by science, technology and innovation for the benefit of people and planet.
Member States adopt equity and solidarity as guidance principles, and the goal of promoting
a responsible and ethical use of science, technology, and innovation (§51).
Hence, they decide to:
“(a) Foster and promote an open, fair, and inclusive [previously, “and non-discriminatory”] environment for scientific
and technological development and cooperation worldwide, including through
actively building trust in science.”
“(b) Increase the use of science, scientific knowledge and scientific evidence in
policy-making and ensure that complex global challenges are addressed through multi- and
transdisciplinary [previously, only “multidisciplinary”] collaboration”. A final part of the paragraph in
Rev-1 on the inclusion of “social sciences, arts and
humanities” was deleted.
“(c) Encourage talent mobility and circulation, including
through educational programs, and support developing countries to retain talent and prevent a brain drain while
providing suitable educational
and working conditions and opportunities for [their skilled] workforce”. There are some minor wording changes
that we did not highlight in favor of easing the reading of this decision.
Action 31. Scale up the means of implementation to developing countries to strengthen their science, technology and innovation capacities.
This action went through
relevant reforms. It reminds, one more time, that “science,
technology and innovation are critical to support sustainable growth and
accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” and then it is imperative
that Member States “collaborate to bridge
the science, technology and innovation gap within and between developed and
developing countries, to support developing countries
to harness science, technology and innovation to achieve sustainable
development, particularly those in special situations.”
Transmuting what was a decision in Rev-1 in part
of the action presentation, Rev-2 continues by reiterating the “need to accelerate
the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on
favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually
agreed.”
Accordingly, Member States express their
decision to:
“(a) Ensure science, technology and innovation contributes to our efforts
to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions and hunger, and to reduce inequalities, in
addition to areas such as food
security and
nutrition, health, education,
social protection, water
and sanitation, energy, climate and environment.” This decision reach is
extended by including new mentions of specific areas not considered in Rev-1
“(b) Increase capacity
building efforts, in particular by developed countries and those developing
countries in a position to do so, in science, technology and innovation”
This decision is almost new since its antecedent is completely reformed. In
Rev-1, decision (d) there was a call upon developed countries to assist developing countries in
capacity-building in science, technology and innovation, without any references
to “developing countries in a position to do so”, through “policy exchanges, knowledge sharing, technical assistance,
financing, joint international research and personnel training tailored to
specific needs, policies and priorities of developing countries,”
“(c) Support [previously, “Build capacity in and scale up”] the development, deployment and sustainable use
of emerging and open source
technologies and support
policies towards open science and open innovation and know-how for the
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially by developing
countries.” This decision become more far-reaching in Rev-2: now it refers not
only to capacity building but also to policy support.
“(d) Strengthen North-South cooperation,
[previously, “Strengthen North-South,
and where capacities are available,”] South-South and triangular cooperation to build
capacity for and improve access to science, technology and innovation, and to
increase resources for the implementation of technical and scientific
initiatives.” The only change here is to avoid redundancies; no country without
capacities can offer them to others.
“(e) Scale up financing from
all sources for scientific research and research infrastructure that supports
sustainable development and increase opportunities for research cooperation, especially in developing countries.”
These three additions bring clarity to the decision reach.
“(f) Attract and support
private sector investment in science, technology and innovation, and deepen
public-private partnerships by fostering a conducive environment in developing
countries that encourages investment and entrepreneurship and promotes decent work,
and by ensuring that innovation can reach global markets”. It is important to
highlight that the amendment in Rev-2 directly connects, for the first time in
the PfF, science, technology, and innovation with decent work.
Finally, the Rev-1 decision
to “Accelerate the transfer
of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable
terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed” was erased from Rev-2, which incorporates a new
decision (g) on promoting “resilient,
and stable global supply chains and make scientific and technological products
and services more accessible to all.”
Action 32. Uphold intellectual property rights to support developing countries achieve sustainable development.
This action was presented
in Rev-1 as “uphold intellectual property rights and apply flexibilities when we can to support developing
countries achieve sustainable development.”
Member States
recognize here “the importance of intellectual property rights to progress on
science, technology and innovation”, and consequently make the following
decisions:
“(a) Protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights “to promote technological innovation, build trust and contribute to (previously, “encourage and enhance”] the transfer [“promotion”] and dissemination of technology [previously, “technological innovation”] on mutually agreed terms.”
The main change
is in the verbs: since “continue is weaker than “encourage and enhance.”
“(b) Uphold [previously “apply”]
the agreements [previously, “flexibilities”] enshrined in relevant international legal obligations related to
trade and intellectual property rights, including
the right of Member States to use the flexibilities contained therein, to
facilitate access for developing countries to scientific
and technological innovations. [previously, “to enable developing countries to deploy technological
innovations”]. There are no
remarkable reforms in this paragraph.
Action 33. Ensure that science, technology and innovation contribute to the full enjoyment of human rights by all.
Another action open by Member States recognition of “the opportunities
and risks presented by science, technology and innovation to promoting,
protecting
Member States decide to:
“(a) Ensure that all scientific and technological research is conducted
in a responsible and ethical
manner that protects and promotes all [previously, “respects”]
human rights, and protects the autonomy, freedom and safety of scientific
researchers.” The obligation of fulfilling Human Rights obligations in
paragraph 54 faded away in this action.
“(b) Integrate a human rights (previously, “human
rights-based”] perspective into regulatory and norm-setting processes for new and emerging
technologies, and call on
the private sector to respect human rights and uphold ethical principles in the
development and use of new technologies. In Rev-2 wording we underline
the incorporation of the reference to the private sector, a relevant actor in
Human Rights in the field of new technologies and innovation.
“(c) Ensure that people in vulnerable situations [previously, “all marginalized groups”]
benefit from and fully and
meaningfully participate
[previously, “can participate”] in the development and application of science,
technology and innovation.” The decision regarding vulnerable groups
participation is now stronger than in Rev-1.
A new decision (d) is added
in Rev-2 focusing on personas with disabilities, the only group specifically
named in this action: Seizing
“on opportunities provided by new
and emerging technologies to empower and advance equity for persons with
disabilities.”
Action 34. Ensure that science, technology and innovation improve gender equality and the lives of all women and girls.
Focusing on women and girls’ discrimination in the field of science,
technology, and innovation, and affirming that this area “can improve gender equality and
women’s and girls’ lives,” States express their grave
concern “about the gender digital divide
and that rapid technological change can exacerbate
existing gender inequalities,” presenting “serious risks to all women and
girls.”
They decide to:
“(a) Address [persistent]barriers to full equal and meaningful access to and participation and leadership in
science, technology and innovation for all women and girls, including through
improving education, employment and research opportunities [previously, “educational opportunities”]
opportunities for women and girls in science, technology, innovation, mathematics and engineering [previously: “in this fields”, referring to science,
technology, and innovation]”. By deleting the word “persistent” now States
decide to act against all barriers; by including employment and research
together with “education” and adding the specific fields of mathematics and
engineering, they extend the application of this decision.
“(b) Address gender-related risks and challenges
emerging from the use of technologies, including all forms
of gender-based violence, trafficking
in persons, harassment, bias and discrimination against all women and girls that occur through, or are
amplified by, the use of technology.” Minor wording changes and the inclusion
of a new way of breaching international law make the decision more precise.
Action 35. Protect, build on and complement indigenous, traditional and local knowledge.
By adding the word a new verb at the beginning of the
sentence, this action refers now to three different conducts: “protect, build
on, and complement. Consequently, States that science, technology
and innovation should be “adapted and made relevant to local needs and
circumstances, including [the knowledge of] Indigenous Peoples, local communities
and traditional afro-descendant populations.”
The only decision under this
action is about fostering “synergies between science and
technology and traditional, local, afro-descendant and indigenous knowledge, systems, practices and capacities.” Sadly,
a concrete and action oriented final part of this decision in Rev-1 on “putting in place measures to identify and mitigate
potential associated risks” was erased.
Action 36. Support the Secretary-General to strengthen the United Nations’ role in science, technology and innovation.
In paragraph 57 the UN
Member States recognize the important
role of the United Nations in science, technology and innovation, taking note of [previously, “welcoming”, which means, in diplomatic words, a downgrade
in support] the establishment of the
Secretary-General's Scientific Advisory Board, aimed to provide independent
scientific advice.
Under this action, States do
not list decisions but convert them into requests to the Secretary-General:
Strengthening the UN’s capacities “to leverage
science, technology and innovation in the work of the Organization, including futures
thinking and foresight, and to monitor and measure ongoing global progress to
bridge the science and technology gap within and between developed and
developing countries.” (decision (a))
Supporting [previously, “Explore ways to strengthen the capacity of United
Nations Country Teams to support”] national governments to leverage
science and technology for sustainable development, including by strengthening the capacity and expertise of United
Nations Country Teams.” The request to “explore
ways for supporting” become stronger by the use of the word “support”, and strengthening
UN Country Teams capacities, the main tool to do so in Rev-1, become just one
possible tool to support Member States science and technology for Sustainable
Development leveraging.
Conclusion
The text of this chapter in the PfF Rev-2 does not
present relevant reforms compared to Rev-1. In general, the modifications tend
to make the decisions stronger, more far-reaching, and more precise.
Developing countries and
human rights defense appear as the two areas more beneficiated from the
reforms, which now include one specific mention of the private sector, a
critical actor in the field of science, technology, and innovation. Even when
that reference is limited to the extremely important human rights obligations,
it is a step forward in the right direction.
To fully understand the framework
established by the PfF on digital cooperation, the reader should refer to the Global
Digital Compact, still under negotiations (see
this post) and to be annexed to the Pact, in which that issue is more
extensively developed than in this chapter.
