ICSU ROLAC future actions and work priorities
The Regional Committee decided on the following work priorities:
Rio+20 process for Latin America and the Caribbean
In June 2012, Rio de Janeiro will host the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; 20 years after the city hosted the first such conference, the “Earth Summit”. This is an intergovernmental process with the main objective to renew political commitment to sustainable development and to address gaps and challenges. The ICSU Executive Board decided that ICSU should attach high priority to its participation in the Rio+20 process. In order to better be able to include the needs of our region, the schedule of preparatory meetings also includes a regional workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean, which will be organized in collaboration with UNESCO in August 2011. The Regional Committee decided to connect the preparation of Rio+20 to three of the four ICSU scientific priority areas: natural hazards, biodiversity and sustainable energy.
ICSU ROLAC scientific priority areas
The Regional Committee acknowledged the progress that ICSU ROLAC had made in implementing the science plans of the four scientific priority areas:
1) Biodiversity: Two activities were stressed: 1) An online consultation in collaboration with DIVERSITAS, which resulted in the Policy Brief “Biodiversity and human well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean: A multi-sectoral contribution to the science-policy interface”, and 2) a meeting in Buenos Aires to discuss biodiversity databases in the region with the aim of a harmonization of protocols.
2) Natural hazards and disasters: Discussions with the Geological Union and with AGU are ongoing about the possibility of establishing an early warning system. ICSU just started a global programme on disasters, and potential avenues of collaboration should be explored.
3) Sustainable energy: The upcoming task is the establishment of an Interamerican Research Network on Sustainable Energy.
4) Mathematics education: A potential collaboration with the education department should be explored.
In order to better coordinate future tasks, two Regional Committee members were assigned to each priority area:
Biodiversity: Arturo Martinez (Argentina) and Mahabir Gupta (Panama)
Sustainable Energy: Elena Vigil (Cuba) and Tara Dasgupta (Jamaica)
Natural Hazards: Carmen Samayoa (Guatemala) and Arturo Martinez (Argentina)
Mathematics: Patricio Felmer (Chile) and José Antonio de la Peña (Mexico)
]]>
The new offices were formally opened by ICSU, the AMC, and the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT). ROLAC relocated to Mexico following the completion of the three-year agreement with the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. The inauguration ceremony was opened by Arturo Menchaca, President of the Mexican Academy of Sciences, and was followed by presentations by Deliang Chen, Alice Abreu, the former Director, and Manuel Limonta, the new Director of the office. Juan Carlos Romero, General Director of CONACyT, formally closed the ceremony.
During the inauguration, ICSU’s Executive Director, Deliang Chen, highlighted the important role the regional office plays in strengthening, organizing, and integrating the regional scientific communities and promoting regional networking. He also recognized the support the office has received from the region: ‘Without the strong support of countries in the region, in particular the leadership provided by Brazil and Mexico, the office for this region would not have been so successful in achieving its goals. On behalf of the ICSU Executive Board, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences for its support over the last three years and to AMC and CONACyT for their commitment and leadership in supporting the office at the AMC.’
The former Director of the Regional Office, Alice Abreu, also expressed her thanks for the support the office has received and highlighted the extraordinary work done by scientists from the region who volunteered their time for the Regional Committee - in particular, the committee chair, José Antonio de la Peña - and the four Scientific Planning Groups, which involved twenty of the most prestigious scientists of the region.
The new Director of the Regional Office, Manuel Limonta, stressed that the new Regional Office in Mexico will play an important role in working with scientists in the region and promoting regional networks, which are important strategies in the region. Furthermore, he expressed his commitment to expand ICSU's capacities in the region. Manuel Limonta thanked CONACYT and the Mexican Academy of Sciences for their contribution which made the move of ICSU ROLAC to Mexico possible.
The Director of CONACYT, Juan Carlos Romero said that this Regional Office will provide a regional perspective on subjects at the interface of academics, governments, and society as a whole. "It is a great honor for Mexico to host ICSU because it provides the basis for a dialogue between countries in Latin America." He also stressed that this is a great opportunity for Mexico to provide a vision beyond its borders.
The President of the Mexican Academy of Sciences, Arturo Menchaca expressed his satisfaction with the confidence and the support of ICSU headquarters that led to the installation of ICSU ROLAC at the Mexican Academy of Sciences. He welcomed Manuel Limonta as the new Director of the Regional Office in this new phase of ICSU ROLAC's existence.
ICSU ROLAC thanks Carmen Samayoa (Guatemala), Tara Dasgupta (Jamaica) and Enrique Lessa (Uruguay), who will end their second term as Committee members in December 2011, for their scientific advice and for their continuous dedication to ICSU RCLAC. As past members of the Committee, we are certain that they will continue sharing their valuable expert opinion and that they will remain part of the ICSU family.
During its 10th meeting, RCLAC also welcomed Jose Luis Moran López as new ex-officio member. His appointment as liaison by the Mexican Academy of Sciences, the host of the ICSU Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, is very much appreciated by the Committee and by ICSU ROLAC.
Sergio Pastrana (Cuba) was elected ICSU Vice-President for External Relations during the ICSU General Assembly in Rome in September 2011, and will no longer be able to act as ex-officio member of the Regional Committee. We thank him for his strong commitment and for his valuable contributions to RCLAC over the past years. ICSU ROLAC welcomes Luiz Davidovich (Brazil) who will join RCLAC as new ex-officio member and liaison to the ICSU EB.
]]>You can download the pdf documents of the four publications in English or Spanish:
The workshop was attended by more than 60 high level scientists, representing 20 countries and various disciplines, who debated the future of sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The recommendations will be presented to the United Nations Rio+20 Regional Preparatory Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean in Santiago de Chile from 7-9 September 2011.
More information on the ICSU-UNESCO Rio+20 Regional Science and Technology Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean.
]]>The objective of the Conference is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges.
ICSU represents the international scientific community in this process, and is organising a range of activities for Rio+20 like:
The Rio+20 conference should decide to launch a process to develop a new contract between science and society to deliver the knowledge necessary for a sustainable future.
]]>