The United Nations Headquarters in New York hosted a significant event on May 24, 2023, as part of the ongoing International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD). The event, titled “Role of Sciences in Crisis Management and Sustainability Transformation,” witnessed the proposal for an International Decade of Sciences for Sustainability, aiming to further advance global scientific cooperation for sustainable development.
The International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UN GA) on December 2, 2021, following a proposal from the Union for Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
During the event, which brought together representatives of UN member states, observers, and various organizations, Ambassador Dušan Vujačić, First Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of Serbia to the UN in New York, proposed that the UN GA proclaim the period from 2024 to 2033 as the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainability. Apart from Mr. Vujačić, the delegation of Serbia included Ms. Jelena Delić, Second Secretary in the Mission, and Dr. Nebojša Nešković, Vice President of the World Academy of Art and Science.
Ambassador Vujačić emphasized the importance of international collaboration and urged other countries to join Serbia’s efforts in promoting scientific research for sustainable development. To solidify the proposal, Serbia committed to preparing a draft resolution to be submitted to and approved by the UN GA by the end of August 2023.
The proposal received immediate support from H.E. Csaba Kőrösi, the President of the UN GA.
The International Decade of Sciences for Sustainability aims to mobilize scientific institutions globally and foster cooperation among them to tackle pressing issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. The proposal signifies a major step towards fostering a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
The Serbian government’s decision to actively participate in the event and propose the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainability highlights the country’s commitment to scientific advancement and its determination to contribute to global sustainable development efforts.
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