“What role does science play in facing global problems?” with Luk Langenhove
15 November 2016
Dr. Luk van Lagenhove, of the United Nations University, explained the importance of global scientific diplomacy at the 6th International FOCIR Breakfast.
The 6th International FOCIR Breakfast took place last Tuesday 15 November, 2016 at the Institut d’Estudis Catalans headquarters with the support of the Barcelona Provincial Government. Dr. Luk van Langenhove, the former director of the United Nations University’s center for comparative integration studies and author of the FOCIR-published article Diplomàcia Científica Global com a nova eina per la Governança Global spoke at this session.
Van Lagenhove’s study builds upon the conception of a world that is constantly facing global problems and challenges that reach beyond borders and threaten humanity as a whole, such as the planet’s biosphere. These are related, on the one hand, with the globalization of human activities, and on the other, with humanity’s environmental impact.
During the event, van Langenhove stressed the importance of scientific knowledge in order to understand and face the problems that our society faces, such as the need to carry out political actions locally, regionally and globally. He wanted to make it clear that we are heading towards the development of a global diplomatic agenda with clear objectives such as the fight against poverty or climate change, always from a scientific basis. van Langenhove emphasized climate change, pointing out the need for state mobilization and the creation of platforms for scientists to exchange ideas and find ways to combat it.
Van Lagenhove called for states to understand that they are part of a global system. “Political actors have a very important role in this and many of them do not have sufficient scientific knowledge, hence the importance of having a strong scientific community that can address global problems.”
Taking advantage of his visit to Barcelona, van Langenhove also participated in the “Com elaborar un projecte europeu” seminar as part of the FORMA’T amb la FOCIR program (comprised of various formative sessions). The professor coordinated the project that was financed through a European Commission 2020 Horizon program called EL-CSID, European Leadership in Cultural, Science and Innovation Diplomacy.
You can read the second FOCIR thought piece here: http://focir.cat/ca/focir-pensament/focir-pensament-3/
Video and video summary.
