Honourable Ministers, honourable Deputy Ministers, Secretary-General of the WSSD, distinguished delegates and participants, fellow scientists, engineers and innovators.

On behalf of the Director-General of UNESCO, let me welcome you to this Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development.

I would first like to emphasise how important this Forum is – science, technology and innovation are paramount considerations in the framework and promotion of sustainable development.

Science and technology are the engine of economic and social development and globalisation, yet are often blamed for non-sustainability and environmental degradation.

Science and technology are supposedly value-free, but are also criticised for reflecting Western values and needs – where they were largely created, developed and institutionalised, with global if not universal application in mind.

Although the above contrasts may be superficial, it is useful to recognise and address these apparent tensions.

While science and technology may be criticised on these grounds, we have to recognise the role and tremendous success of science and technology in development. We also have to recognise the fact that the real focus of attention should be on the effective and sustainable application, use and management of science and technology for development and poverty reduction.

Indeed, these recognitions were made at the World Conference on Science, organised by UNESCO and ICSU in 1999, and the first World Engineers’ Convention, organised by the German Association of Engineers, in conjunction with WFEO and UNESCO in 2000 – which will be followed by the second World Engineers’ Convention in Shanghai in 2004.

Although we live in “knowledge societies”, in reality all societies have been knowledge-based, with “knowledge” relating primarily to understanding and application – to science and technology. Indeed, knowledge and societies are closely connected, as societies are the means through which knowledge is codified and transmitted.

Sustainable development is commonly described as the preservation of our heritage for future generations, but it is more than this. Sustainability depends significantly on knowledge – and science and technology again enter the equation. What is sustainable depends on our knowledge and resources. What is a “resource” depends on our knowledge to use it.

We also need, therefore, to focus our attention on the use and development of our science and technology for sustainable social and economic development. And we need to have a particular focus on the developing countries and poverty reduction.

Although science and technology should be a focus of discussion in sustainable development and poverty reduction, it does not appear large on the agenda. And when it does, it is usually with an emphasis on specifics, rather than the broader picture of science and technology.

UNESCO is active in these areas, promoting science and technology, capacity-building and policy perspectives in the environmental sciences. These areas include the basic and engineering sciences, water, ecological and earth sciences, science analysis and policies. We welcome and encourage cooperation and partnership in our efforts.

Partnership is vital in this activity and UNESCO is happy to closely cooperate with ICSU (the International Council for Science), WFEO (the World Federation of Engineering Organisations), TWAS (the Third World Academy of Science), ISSC (the International Social Science Council), the European Commission and IAP (the InterAcademy Panel).

We, as Task Manager for Science, would also like to thank Mr Nitin Desai for his support of science in the process from Rio to Johannesburg.

Honourable Minister/s, distinguished delegates and participants,

UNESCO would like to conclude by thanking the organisers – the above partner organisations - for the organisation and presentation of this Forum.

I mentioned the overall importance of knowledge, knowledge applications and society in our survival and evolution, and of the overall importance of science and technology in the “knowledge society”.

This Forum is our society - this is where we have to apply our knowledge in science, technology and innovation to promote sustainable development, in synergetic partnership with each other to advance our shared interests.

UNESCO looks forward to participating in this process, to further cooperation in follow-through activity, and wishes the Forum every success.