Taking Stock of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development

On July 17, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the first global report of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD 2024-2033), an initiative proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly with the aim of mobilizing science in support of sustainable development. Entitled “Science at a Turning Point: International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development”, the report provides an overview of the first two years of the Decade, highlighting important achievements while drawing attention to persistent inequalities in access to the benefits of science. Click here to access the document.

According to the report, the international scientific community has demonstrated growing engagement in addressing global challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss, water stress, social inequalities, and technological transformations. During the initial years of the Decade, 396 initiatives were registered across 79 countries, of which 209 have already received formal endorsement from UNESCO, while another 187 are currently under review. These initiatives span all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and involve a wide range of disciplines, from the natural and physical sciences to the social sciences and humanities.

Expanding Access to Science and Innovation

The report highlights successful efforts aimed at democratizing scientific knowledge, including open laboratories, remote access to research equipment, data science training programs, climate modeling initiatives, agroecology projects, applications of artificial intelligence for sustainable development, and programs promoting women’s participation in science. Together, these initiatives demonstrate the potential of a more open, collaborative, and accessible scientific enterprise to address contemporary challenges.

Despite these advances, the report warns of the persistence of a deep global “science divide.” Many countries, particularly in Africa and Small Island Developing States, continue to face significant limitations in scientific infrastructure, capacity-building opportunities, and access to resources. The report notes that Sub-Saharan Africa is home to approximately 17.5% of the world’s population but accounts for less than 1% of the world’s researchers, illustrating the scale of existing disparities. Women and early-career researchers also continue to face barriers to full participation in scientific research and leadership positions.

Five Priorities for the Next Phase of the Decade

To address these challenges, UNESCO identifies five priority areas for action during the coming years of the Decade: rethinking research assessment and reward systems; expanding equitable access to scientific infrastructure and open knowledge; strengthening dialogue between scientists, policymakers, and society; protecting scientific freedom, research integrity, and public trust in science; and ensuring the responsible governance of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

UNESCO argues that reducing global scientific inequalities is not only a matter of development, but also of equity and human rights. According to the organization, the results achieved during the first years of the Decade demonstrate that an approach based on international cooperation and the recognition of science as a global public good can help build a more inclusive and sustainable future. The next step will be to translate this initial momentum into sustained investments, stronger partnerships, and tangible benefits for societies worldwide.

The report therefore reinforces the message that the benefits of the ongoing scientific revolution cannot remain restricted to a limited segment of humanity. As the publication emphasizes, “the scientific future cannot belong to the few”; rather, it must be shared broadly so that science can fully contribute to advancing sustainable development around the world.