One planet – two worlds: how long will the North-South divide endure?

Walter R. Erdelen was formerly based at UNESCO, Paris, France. He is ecologist, biogeographer and UNESCO’s former Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences. He was responsible for programs and activities with a strong focus on the policy dimension, targeted at sustainable development. Inter alia he had overseen the Organization’s work in the basic, engineering, water, ecological and Earth sciences and set up a global science-policy initiative for UNESCO’s member states.

Jacques G. Richardson was based at Decision+Communication, Authon-la-Plaine, France. He came from the field of science and engineering popularization. He was the author of a book on scientific research and the military, headed UNESCO’s Science and Society Section, and edited the journal Impact of Science on Society. He then managed his own consultancy in environmental communication, working with governments and high-technology industry. Jacques passed away on April 1, 2022.

Moneef R. Zou’bi is based at InterAction Council, Amman, Jordan. He is the Science Advisor of the InterAction Council and Co-Founding Director of the World Sustainability Forum. He was Director-General of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (1998–2019). He co-authored the Arab States Chapter of the 2010, 2015 and 2020 editions of UNESCO’s Science Report and was a member of the Board of Judges of the Templeton Prize (2018–2021). His academic background is in science and technology studies.