The move was announced on 22 June at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) by Irina Bokova, the director-general of the UN Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). She said that UNESCO had been asked to take the leadership in setting up the council, and also provide its secretariat.
The board will bring together eminent specialists from the natural sciences, the social and human sciences, and engineering, and representing diverse backgrounds and regions. One of its key functions will be to promote cooperation on science-related issue between UN agencies, and with the international scientific community.
Earlier this year, a high level panel on sustainability — established by the secretary-general — proposed either creating a scientific board or appointing a chief scientific adviser. A small group of experts, from organisations such as UNESCO and the International Council for Science (ICSU), began investigating how to take these recommendations forward.
More information is available in the UNESCO Press Release.
