On 22 September, world leaders adopted a Pact for the Future – the agreement outlining the vision for a more sustainable, equitable, and peaceful world. The International Science Council, through its convening power and knowledge brokerage, track 2 diplomacy, and ambitious projects like Science Missions for Sustainability, is uniquely positioned to support the Pact and translate its vision into action. 

 The Pact includes 56 actions that span across sustainable development, peace and security, science, technology, digital cooperation, and global governance. It emphasizes international and intergenerational solidarity, prioritizing future generations though commitments to peace, the environment, and youth. 

The crucial role of youth in shaping a sustainable and peaceful future is heavily acknowledged in the Pact and even more so in the Declaration on Future Generations, where youth are positioned as essential partners in achieving its vision of a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Speaking at the  Building Bridges Through Science Diplomacy side event, María Estelí Jarquín ISC Committee for Outreach and Engagement member, said:

“I will never forget this weekend at the United Nations, where I had the privilege of meeting and engaging with so many brilliant minds. As a young person, I saw myself in other young minds: full of hope for the future, driven by curiosity, and eager to explore the unknown. The Pact for the Future must be powered by these two key forces – hope and curiosity – which are essential engines driving humanity forward and who are also present in science. Therefore, I urge the international science community to stay vigilant on two priorities: first, ensuring that science remains at the core of the Pact, and second, placing youth at the heart of it.”

To achieve this future, the Pact calls for reforming the multilateral system to make it more effective and inclusive. It stresses the importance of international cooperation, dialogue, and partnerships, with the United Nations at its core, to collectively address global challenges. 

Yet, while the Pact lays out a vision, it does not explicitly detail a method for implementing this roadmap of a better future for all. In a world increasingly polarized by geopolitical tensions and conflict, one wonders how nations will set aside domestic interests to invest in “our common future.” The Pact acknowledges these tensions, calling for diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution to help bridge this gap. 

Harnessing science for peacebuilding 

Historically, science diplomacy has been a tool to foster international cooperation in times of geopolitical tensions. However, as ISC President Peter Gluckman noted during the Summit of the Future, the effectiveness of science diplomacy is increasingly challenged by the rise of “realpolitik”. In his address, he stressed the need of science diplomacy to adapt to this new reality by adopting a multi-stakeholder approach – that balances national interests and the need for global collaboration.  

The international scientific community plays a critical role in addressing global challenges and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially within the revitalized framework of the Pact for the Future. The Pact highlights science, technology, and innovation (STI) as essential for addressing sustainability issues and supporting peacebuilding efforts. 

Through its Science Missions for Sustainability, the ISC offers a mechanism for translating the Pact’s vision into tangible actions. 

“With the adoption of the Pact for the Future, action is urgent. It emphasizes the need for the responsible and ethical use of science and technology to address the knowledge and capacity gaps that prevent the international community from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. By promoting effective use of and trust in science, advancing evidence -informed policy making, and supporting open innovation, through raising the voices of under-represented communities and promoting international collaboration in an increasing tense geopolitical climate, the Pact supports the foundation of the 2030 Agenda. The ISC has a particular role to in working with the international community,through our members working locally and regionally and through our increasingly recognized role in track 2 diplomacy.”

Emphasis on science-based solutions 

The Pact repeatedly underscores the need for evidence-based policymaking and leveraging scientific knowledge to address global challenges. As stated in:  
“Action 28. We will seize the opportunities presented by science, technology and innovation for the benefit of people and the planet.  […] We decide to increase the use of science, scientific knowledge and scientific evidence in policymaking and ensure that complex global challenges are addressed through interdisciplinary collaboration” 

The ISC’s Science Missions for Sustainability aim to facilitate a “big science approach” to sustainability challenges, drawing inspiration from initiatives like CERN, with the ultimate ambition to achieve a sustainable future. It provides a direct roadmap for translating the Pact’s vision into action by mobilizing global scientific expertise to generate actionable solutions at the local level. 

In preparation for the UN Summit of the Future, the ISC Fellows, led by Chair of the ISC Fellowship Council, Dr. Terrence Forrester, penned a Letter to the scientific community emphasizing the critical role for scientists in building pathways to a sustainable future. He also highlighted the essential role that science can play in bridging those divides and called for greater engagement between diplomats and scientists, particularly in supporting the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations.

 
“Fellow scientists, the world is facing growing divides, conflict, and polycrisis, and we as scientists have a crucial role to play. Let us be prepared and available for service to those on the front lines of decision-making and action, from local governments and civil society to UN leaders and Member States, both during the Summit of the Future and in the months and years to come. The Summit offers us a launch pad to strengthen the scientific community’s role. May we seize this opportunity in ensuring that science stays at the forefront in the fixing of crises of humanity and the planet. Together, we can achieve a sustainable and resilient future.”

The ISC’s Science Missions are additionally explicitly designed to bridge the divide between nations, with a specific focus in regions that face disproportionate burdens and impacts arising from global challenges, and where the SDG progress is lagging the most. Answering directly to Action 29 (“We will scale up the means of implementation to developing countries to strengthen their science, technology and innovation capacities”), the Missions project will aims to scale up STI capacities in developing countries, through research collaborations, knowledge transfer, and capacity building.  

A roadmap for funders
The UN Pact for the Future, with its high-level political endorsement and comprehensive scope, serves as a compelling rationale for increased investment in science-based solutions. The ISC’s Science Missions For Sustainability offers a roadmap for funders, demonstrating how targeted investments can drive global collaboration and action on sustainability. 

Original blog written and published by the International Science Council