Putting Planetary Science on the Global Agenda
30/06/2025
What role should science play in shaping the world’s future? And who decides what counts as progress? These are some of the questions taken up by the United Nations’ 10-Member Group, a high-level advisory panel on science, technology, and innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Among its members are Earth Commissioners Joyeeta Gupta and Keywan Riahi, who are working to ensure that emerging technologies and scientific knowledge support a more just and sustainable future.
“The main thing the group does is set certain agendas,” Riahi said. “You can table certain issues, make sure a variety of voices are heard, and give weight to topics that might otherwise be sidelined.”
Appointed by the UN Secretary-General in early 2024, the current panel brings together experts from diverse disciplines and regions. Its work includes drafting policy briefs, advising on the agendas of major UN conferences, and contributing to a final report that will help guide future global STI priorities.
Now serving his second consecutive term, Riahi emphasized the group’s role in identifying new innovations and balancing competing global priorities.
“We aim to highlight both opportunities and risks. For example, the growing inequalities linked to access to AI and digital technologies,” he said. “The Earth Commission’s work on safe and just system boundaries has influenced how the panel frames its recommendations, particularly in emphasizing equity and justice.”
The main thing the group does is set certain agendas
Keywan Riahi, Commissioner
Gupta, who co-chairs the group, has drawn on the Earth Commission’s published research to support science-policy briefs for this year’s STI Forum, the annual UN meeting focused on how science and technology can accelerate progress toward the SDGs, held in May. The briefs touch upon topics like safe and just boundaries, just transformations and multilateral cooperation.
“The 10-Member Group influences the process by submitting policy briefs to the conference, by proposing an agenda and speakers, and by contributing to other conferences as well,” Gupta added. “Our final report will build on the expertise of all ten members and will include our work for the Earth Commission as well as other work on fossil fuels and the building sector,” she said.
Despite uncertainty around whether the group will meet again in person before the end of its term in 2025, Gupta said she remains optimistic it will be able to influence countries’ agenda-setting going forward.
“Since the group brings in cutting-edge science, countries may not always be willing to accept our advice but at least it’s recorded in the documents and paves the way for future discussions,” she said.
