Heritage Stewardship
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Declaration of Ethical Principles in Relation to Climate Change
UNESCO
Adopted 13 November 2017 :: 15 pages
PDF: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0026/002601/260129e.pdf
[Excerpts]
Article 7: Scientific Knowledge and Integrity in Decision-Making
1. Decision-making based on science is critically important for meeting the mitigation and adaptation challenges of a rapidly changing climate. Decisions should be based on, and guided by, the best available knowledge from the natural and social sciences, including interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary science, and by taking into account, as appropriate, local, traditional and
indigenous knowledge.

2. In order to optimally aid in decision-making, science needs to meet the highest standards of research integrity by being impartial, rigorous, honest, and transparent, and should give adequate estimates of uncertainty in order to provide decision-makers with insight into, and understanding of, the underlying risks as well as opportunities, and guidance to their formulating long-term
strategies.

3. Scientific cooperation and capacity-building should be strengthened in developing countries in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of climate change impacts as well as potential mitigation and adaptation actions.

4. States, according to Article 6 of the UNFCCC and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement adopted under the Convention, and other relevant actors should:
(a) take measures which help protect and maintain the independence of science and the integrity of the scientific process. This includes assisting in maintaining strong scientific standards as well as transparency at all levels with respect to scientific funding, methodologies and research conclusions;
(b) raise awareness and promote literacy in science in all sectors and amongst their populations in order to underpin strong and collective action and understanding of how to respond to climate change;
(c) promote accurate communication on climate change based on peerreviewed scientific research, including the broadest promulgation of science in the media and other forms of communication;
(d) build effective mechanisms to strengthen the interface between science and policy to ensure a strong knowledge-base in decision-making….

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Press Release
UNESCO Member States adopt Declaration of Ethical Principles in relation to Climate Change
13 November 2017
UNESCO is asserting that at its core, climate change is an ethical issue. In a broad consensus, the organization’s 195 Member States adopted a global Declaration of ethical principles in relation to climate change during the 39th Session of its General Conference (Paris, 30 October to 14 November).

UNESCO’s Declaration aims to help governments, businesses, and civil society mobilize people around shared values on climate change. lt sounds the alarm that, unless ethical principles become the basis of climate action, both climate change and responses to it could create unacceptable damage and injustice.

Among other ethical principles, a science-based approach to decision-making about climate is crucial. “Decision-making based on science is critically important for meeting the mitigation and adaptation challenges of a rapidly changing climate. Decisions should be based on the best available knowledge from the natural and social sciences,” the text says…

The process was initiated in 2008, when the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (“COMEST”), a global advisory body of experts, started framing the issues and urging policy responses…

The Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Patricia Espinosa (link is external), has been crystal clear: “Implementing the Paris Agreement requires action on the ground and for that we need to mobilize everybody! We need to mobilize governments – not only national governments – governments at all levels. We need to mobilize civil society, scientists, private sector – everybody needs to be mobilized.”

In a show of support for this UNESCO Declaration, government representatives have asked UNESCO to disseminate and promote the Declaration. UNESCO will continue to be fully engaged in this endeavour.
:: Read the background report