Taking part in the OECD Science and Technology Policy Ministerial in Paris on 23-24 April, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean stressed the need to harness the full potential of science, technology and innovation to facilitate the shift to clean energy, reduce environmental pressures, and create more inclusive and fair communities, while navigating potential challenges of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI).  

In that respect, UNECE is ready to join forces with OECD to align its work on transformative innovation – notably through its Transformative Innovation Network (ETIN) – with the newly adopted OECD Ministerial Declaration on Transformative Science, Technology and Innovation Policy. 

The UNECE Executive Secretary reiterated this message during her bilateral meetings with Ivan Bogdan-Gruia, Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalization of Romania; Martina Hirayama, State Secretary at the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland; and Oddmund Hoel, Minister of Research and Higher Education of Norway. 

Meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, Ms. Molcean exchanged views on how to take the work on transformative innovation forward, especially with a view to the upcoming UN Summit of the Future, which will, among other things, focus on transformative science, technology and innovation. She also discussed the broad cooperation of UNECE and OECD in environmental matters, including joint action on green economic transformation. 

At an OECD thematic discussion on artificial intelligence in science and for innovation, Ms. Molcean underlined that UNECE develops norms, standards, guidelines, and best practices in various fields related to sustainable development. Furthermore, UNECE is assessing the use of AI in its areas of work to help member States harness AI in a manner that is based on the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  

On the sidelines of the OCDE Ministerial, Ms. Molcean also met with Mr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), to discuss the shift to clean energy and the development of resilient energy systems, as well as cooperation on methane management, and sustainable and responsible use of critical raw materials.  

Photo credit: OECD