Bckground Papers ECOSOC

Background to the topic:

“Science, Technology, and Innovation”. It has become common practice to speak about science and technology for sustainable development, (environmental friendly) but it is suggested that this idea should be expanded to include the concept of world innovation. Innovation can be described as the way by which individuals and groups apply their creative, adaptive capacities and their social, organizational, and institutional knowledge for the generation of new scientific and technical skills.

Debates on how to promote sustainable development are incomplete without a full consideration of issues of science, technology and innovation (STI). Many of the countries that have the required resources are willing to help. In the other hand, developing countries urgently need sustainable progress but their resources are too low or have other important issues to attend.

Access to new and appropriate technologies promote improvements in living conditions, which can be lifesaving for the most vulnerable populations, and drive productivity gains which ensure rising incomes. Innovation driven growth is no longer the privilege for high income countries, some developing countries have achieved significant economic growth through the creation and deployment of STI capacity, but this has not been the case for all countries, in particular least developed countries.

As previously established sustainable innovation is not always a viable option for developing countries. The issue is that not every country considers this relevant. They are not aware that sustainable innovations will not only help the environment but also their economy. It is not only an issue to consider but the one that should be made.

At the Rio,20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development made on June 2012, the world’s governments agreed to develop a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Discussions at UN level have covered Science, Technology and Innovation. Recently, the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UN-DESA), had jointly a meeting of an Expert Group at the UN Headquarter. The Global Network of Academies (IAP) had issued a statement on Population and Consumption in June 2012. Several Academies and other learned bodies have brought out reports on development issues including U.S. National Academy of Science.

Individual Perspective

United States: The United States agreed, along with all of the other UN Member States, to develop and implement a National Strategy for Sustainability first during the Earth Summit Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and then again during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. President Bill Clinton established a President's Council on Sustainable Development that met for six years during the 1990s and developed a series of reports and recommendations for creating a more sustainable America. As of 2010, a Director of Sustainable Development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a mission of advancing the principles and goals of sustainable development through partnerships, collaboration, and outreach.
Syria: The actual situation in Syria is very tense. A civil war is happening and there is no time left to think about innovation. People are too busy thinking on fear rather than ways to help the environment and the economy. The government is ignorant to the situation and is not willing to help or support any type of organization.
Japan: Corporate Japan is making progress in sustainable development, cut the use of lead and other toxic substances in industry, embracing solar energy and making biodegradable plastic out of sugar beets. Automobiles and electronics, two of the sectors in which Japan floods the world with its goods, have in recent years been at the forefront of environmentally friendly production.
India: In 1972, the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi emphasized, at the UN Conference on Human Environment at Stockholm, that the removal of poverty is an integral part of the goal of an environmental strategy for the world. The concepts of interrelatedness, of a shared planet, of global citizenship, and of ‘spaceship earth’ cannot be restricted to environmental issues alone. They apply equally to the shared and inter-linked responsibilities of environmental protection and human development.
Colombia: The development objective of the Additional Financing for the Sustainable Development Investment Project is to support the development and implementation of policy reforms and related investments in line with the sustainable development policy loan program framework, particularly those policies and investments that address environmental problems affecting the quality of life and wellbeing of the Colombian population.

Focus of committee

The committee´s focus is unique; innovation is not a simple solution. Sustainable development is the answer to the further science inventions and technological advances that will help the environment and the international economy. It is important for the delegates to remember that not every country wants to help. Also to recall that economic and social disputes should be resolved, that for many countries this is not a priority.

Things to consider

It is very important to make countries self-sufficient for the future.
Solutions have to be cost effective.
Long term solutions are encouraged, along with short term.
Not every country considers the topic relevant

Bibliography

http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml

http://www.un.org/millenium/declaration/ares552e.htm

http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/sustsci/ists/docs/consortium_ahag_rpt_0503.pdf

http://earth.columbia.edu/sitefiles/file/about/director/documents/lancet012205.pdf

http://www.interacademies.net/File.aspx?id=21871

https://docs.google.com/gview?url=http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20//content/documents/278Rio2012+Issues+brief+12+Science+and+Technology+final.pdf&embedded=true

http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/untaskteam_undf/thinkpieces/28_thinkpiece_science.pdf

https://docs.google.com/gview?url=http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20//content/documents/278Rio2012+Issues+brief+12+Science+and+Technology+final.pdf&embedded=true

http://www.uncsd2012.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=218&menu=45

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/energy-tech-05zf.html

http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=6&nr=192&menu=139

http://www.uncsd2012.org/objectiveandthemes.html

Topic A:

Strengthening the global process towards sustainable development through innovation in science and technology

Topic B:

Improving Youth´s Access To Educational And Employment Opportunitties.

Background to the Topic

Now a day, there is a huge problem in education and employment. The majority of young people usually stays in education and establishes a positive transition to adult life and employment. But recent figures show that 1.16 million people are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The government in United Kingdom wants to do all it can to help young people, particularly the most vulnerable, to develop their skills, gain the right experience and succeed in adult life.

Youth all around the world face significant and specific challenges in accessing decent work opportunities. Youth is specifically vulnerable to unemployment because there is a lack of work experience in first-time job seekers, there is inability to compete with skilled and experienced workers, there is a mismatch between output from education/training systems and labor market demands, and a mismatch between youth aspirations, work and life realities.

Getting young people participating and engaged in their own learning and later into work, will make a lasting difference to their designs, which would help them to elevate levels of social mobility. The Government’s radical reforms in schools, vocational education, skills and welfare provision would all make a significant difference to young people’s opportunities and support, but there are no specific strategies for national development policies and programs for either rural or urban youth. There is an obvious lack of attention on this issue.

In fact, more 16-18 year olds are participating in education or training than ever before and gaining the qualifications and skills they need to get good jobs, but unemployment rates for young people have risen.

Involving youth in the early phases would bring new and important ideas for the world development. Young people need support on their journey from school or college into the work world. We need to find strategies to support all young people to develop the skills, qualifications and the experience needed – to succeed in their careers and make a positive contribution to our society and economy.

Individual Perspectives

United Kingdom: The government is trying to create an environment in which employers feel confident to create job opportunities is clearly fundamental to tackling the root causes of youth unemployment. As set out in the Autumn Statement23, the Government is doing everything it can to protect and build a stronger economy for the future and promote fairness, helping to create the right conditions for business to start up, invest, grow and create jobs

Finland: The Youth Guarantee will offer everyone under the age of 25, as well as recent graduates under 30, a job, on-the-job training, a study place or rehabilitation within three months of becoming unemployed.
The Youth Guarantee consists of various elements: a guarantee of employment, one of education or training, a young adults’ skills program, a youth workshop, and outreach youth work. The cross-administrative Youth Guarantee takes effect from the start of 2013.

Africa: Private-sector salary jobs have been growing, but this growth is from such a small base that it cannot come close to absorbing the 7 million to 10 million young people entering the labor force each year. Furthermore, some of these youths are not qualified for the wage jobs that are available. As a result, most young people will end up working in the same position as their parents—small farms or household enterprises.

European Union: The Youth Guarantee is one of the key priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the event was an opportunity to hear opinions from across the political spectrum on it. The Youth Guarantee is a new approach to tackling youth unemployment which ensures that all young people under 25 – whether registered with employment services or not – get a good-quality, concrete offer within 4 months of them leaving formal education or becoming unemployed.

Focus of Committee

The focus of this committee is to provide education and jobs for young people, this action is now called Youth Guarantee. It is important to remember that this action has only been implemented in Europe and few countries had adopted it. Improving the youths´ access to educational and employment opportunities bring the development to the world because generations come with a new and great way of thinking and allow a new global development. We also need to remember that not every country has the resources to get over this issue.