Science and Technology in the New International Order: Problems Facing an International Development Strategy of the United Nations

The United Nations is entering the third development decade designated by a resolution which is part of the series now consisting of three texts which have guided the efforts of the United Nations over the last 20 years. The present document took a long time to produce and was the object of particular care and attention. The General Assembly resolution of 17 December, 1977, provided that:— all negotiations should be conducted within the framework of U.N. institutions— an extraordinary session of the General Assembly should be held in 1980 to assess and to identify the new strategy for development— a plenary committee should be established, open to all member states, to prepare for the meeting of the Extraordinary Session in 1980.On the one hand the third decade was to open “global negotiation” and the plenary committee was to prepare the ground for these negotiations; on the other hand, a committee was to devise the new strategy and to present it to the Eleventh Special Session. Those were the two aims; and the Group of 77 were determined to link them in a single ten-year-plan, in what is called in the U.N. terminology a ten years strategy. Three of these strategies have been adopted so far. The General Assembly in its resolutions A/1710 (XVI) and A/1715 (XVI), 19 December, 1961, declared the period 1960–70 the first U.N.Decadeof development: a period in which special efforts should be made by all, in favour of those who live in the less developed countries.

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Rising Powers and International Organisations: The Case of China’s Counter-terrorism Strategy at the United Nations

China Report ◽

10.1177/0009445519834376 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 125-144

Author(s):

Vikash Chandra

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

International Order ◽

State Sovereignty ◽

General Assembly ◽

Rising Powers ◽

International Organisations ◽

Counter Terrorism ◽

Changing Patterns ◽

Central Coordination ◽

The United Nations

This article illustrates China’s counter-terrorism strategy at the United Nations (UN), analyses its cornerstones and underscores changing patterns. On this basis, it also seeks to make some broader observations about how rising powers behave in international organisations and to highlight their attitudes towards the liberal international order. It considers Chinese positions in the debates in the General Assembly (1972–2018), its Sixth Committee and the Security Council (since the early 1990s) and identifies four pillars of China’s counter-terrorism strategy. These include norm entrepreneurship, diplomatic measures, promotion of international cooperation and domestic measures to fulfil obligations emanating from UN resolutions, conventions and declarations. It shows how China has shaped the discourse on terrorism at the UN and how its counter-terror narratives and advocacy have been and are being shaped by the discourse among states and competing blocs like the Organization of Islamic Conference over this period. It concludes with the observation that, despite changes in its strategy in recent years, the defining principles of China’s counter-terrorism strategy, such as respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, have not eroded. Changes like accepting that the UN must play a ‘central coordination role’ in international counter-terrorism should be regarded as a further extension of China’s zeal to maintain the international order because the UN is a defining pillar of the present international order.

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Harnessing microbial science to accelerate the United Nations sustainable development goals

Access Microbiology ◽

10.1099/acmi.ac2020.po0253 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (7A) ◽

Author(s):

Omololu Fagunwa ◽

Afolake Atinuke

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

United Nations ◽

International Development ◽

Environmental Degradation ◽

Scientific Discipline ◽

Decent Work ◽

Peace And Justice ◽

New Strategy ◽

Development Goals ◽

The United Nations

Modernisation has thrown humanity and other forms of life on our planet into ditch of problems. Poverty, climate change, injustice, environmental degradation are few of the shared global problems. The United Nations SDGs are set as blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs are well structured to address the global challenges we face including poverty, inequalities, hunger, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. The SDGs have been driven mainly by international donors and ‘professional’ international development organisations. The world is left with 10 years to achieve these ambitious goals and targets. Various reviews indicated that little has been achieve on overall, and the SDGs will not be reality if new strategy is not in place to bring inclusion. Microbiology, the scientific discipline of microbes, their effects and practical uses has insightful influence on our day to day living. We present how microbiology and microbiologists could increase the scorecard and accelerate these global goals. Microbiology contribution to peace, justice, gender equality, decent work and economic growth will be also highlighted among others. The pledge of Leave No One Behind will fast track progress and microbiology is better position to make this work.

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Marine Genetic Resources in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Promoting Marine Scientific Research and Enabling Equitable Benefit Sharing

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.667274 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Alex D. Rogers ◽

Amy Baco ◽

Elva Escobar-Briones ◽

Kristina Gjerde ◽

Judith Gobin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Technology Transfer ◽

United Nations ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Benefit Sharing ◽

National Jurisdiction ◽

The United Nations

Growing human activity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) is driving increasing impacts on the biodiversity of this vast area of the ocean. As a result, the United Nations General Assembly committed to convening a series of intergovernmental conferences (IGCs) to develop an international legally-binding instrument (ILBI) for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of ABNJ [the biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement] under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The BBNJ agreement includes consideration of marine genetic resources (MGR) in ABNJ, including how to share benefits and promote marine scientific research whilst building capacity of developing states in science and technology. Three IGCs have been completed to date with the fourth delayed by the Covid pandemic. This delay has allowed a series of informal dialogues to take place between state parties, which have highlighted a number of areas related to MGR and benefit sharing that require technical guidance from ocean experts. These include: guiding principles on the access and use of MGR from ABNJ; the sharing of knowledge arising from research on MGR in ABNJ; and capacity building and technology transfer for developing states. In this paper, we explain what MGR are, the methods required to collect, study and archive them, including data arising from scientific investigation. We also explore the practical requirements of access by developing countries to scientific cruises, including the sharing of data, as well as participation in research and development on shore whilst promoting rather than hindering marine scientific research. We outline existing infrastructure and shared resources that facilitate access, research, development, and benefit sharing of MGR from ABNJ; and discuss existing gaps. We examine international capacity development and technology transfer schemes that might facilitate or complement non-monetary benefit sharing activities. We end the paper by highlighting what the ILBI can achieve in terms of access, utilization, and benefit sharing of MGR and how we might future-proof the BBNJ Agreement with respect to developments in science and technology.

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