Director-General's remarks at the Opening of the high-level plenary of the 2024 GESDA Summit "The Great Scientific Acceleration"

Opening of the high-level plenary of the 2024 GESDA Summit "The Great Scientific Acceleration"

Wednesday, 9 October 2024, at 1.00 p.m.

Auditorium A, CERN Science Gateway

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour to join you today at the 2024 GESDA Summit convened under the theme “The Great Scientific Acceleration.” It is fitting that this year’s edition is taking place at CERN – home to the Large Hadron Collider and a symbol of humanity's quest to understand the mystery of nature for the benefit of humankind. 

Science and technology are advancing today at an unparalleled pace. From Artificial Intelligence to quantum computing, from bio engineering to space exploration, the progress we are witnessing is reshaping the way we understand and engage with the world. Science and technology have the potential to solve some of our most pressing challenges — from climate crisis and pandemics to inequality and food security - and to give an unprecedented boost to sustainable development. But to harness this potential fully, multilateral cooperation is key. No country, international organization, or big tech company can manage the risks and benefits of these advancements alone. We must all work together to strengthen existing digital cooperation processes to support collaboration across regions and industries and facilitate new governance arrangements where needed.  

The adoption of the Global Digital Compact as part of the Pact for the Future last month represents a major step in this direction. 

Being the first universal agreement on the international governance of Artificial Intelligence, the Global Digital Compact calls for strengthened global cooperation to achieve universal digital connectivity by 2030 and maintains a strong focus on the protection of human rights in the digital sphere. But implementation is key, and it requires a concerted effort of all stakeholders to make the shared vision of the Compact a reality. 

International Geneva with its rich ecosystem of actors is uniquely positioned to lead in this endeavour. The fruitful collaboration between the United Nations, CERN and GESDA exemplifies how Geneva brings together diverse stakeholders to leverage the fusion of science and diplomacy for the implementation of the SDGs and closing the digital divides.

Mindful of the potential of quantum technologies, one year ago, GESDA launched in these very walls an Open Quantum Institute. The Institute is an excellent illustration of the power of collective thinking and multistakeholder partnerships on issues ranging from carbon footprint reduction to mitigation of antimicrobial resistance and producing more food on less land. 

The Beyond Lab (former SDG Lab) in my Office, is a member of the “Quantum for the SDGs” Task Force, and it supported GESDA in identifying case studies explored by the Open Quantum Institute and contributed to the inclusion of the SDG-centered theory of change in the programmatic work of the Institute. 

I am encouraged to see a growing number of Geneva-based UN specialized agencies join these multilateral efforts to leverage the potential of quantum science for the sustainable future of our planet. 

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Technologies that are developed today have profound implications for humanity’s future. As a global community, we need to be able to anticipate the scientific and technology trends of tomorrow. While these advancements offer opportunities to accelerate our efforts towards the SDGs, they can also pose great challenges for the well-being of people and the planet if not accompanied by the necessary safeguards and guardrails. 

The United Nations is fully committed to facilitating this dialogue to ensure that the fruits of the scientific and technological acceleration are shared fairly. 

Let us work together to close the digital divides that still fragment our world and let us create a future where science, diplomacy, and innovation work hand in hand to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all, where no one is left behind.

Thank you.