The United Nations (UN) could soon have its own chief scientist or panel of science advisers, the Planet Under Pressure conference in London heard last week.

In a video address to the conference, Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the UN, said that he is taking forward a recommendation to appoint a chief scientific adviser or scientific board, as suggested to him by a panel of experts on global sustainability.

“Policy-makers often fail to turn to scientists for advice, or discount it too easily owing to electoral or other political considerations,” he said.

The proposal is one idea among many aimed at strengthening the role of science in policy-making discussed at the conference. Scientists expressed concern that science will not feature strongly enough in discussions on global sustainable development at the earth summit in Rio de Janeiro in June. The London conference, which ran from 26–29 March, is seen as scientists’ opportunity to put forward their case on how to achieve global sustainable development. Evidence-based policy-making and improved environmental governance were at the top of scientists’ agenda (See Nature’s previous coverage of the Rio+20 Earth Summit and other coverage from the conference). Continue reading →