1. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 1 COMEST, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 25 th March 2005 Prof. Alain Pompidou COMEST member

2. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 2 New Technology Ethical Assessment Mandate of COMEST includes « early warning of risk situation » New technologies have ethical and legal consequences They have a significant impact on the society They often interest a limited a number of countries The assessment is usually focused on efficacy and efficiency, not on ethics

3. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 3 COMEST, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies Ethics of technological innovation New Technology Assessment Disposability and obscolescence Nanotechnology Ethics of outer space

4. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 4 New Technology Assessment: Ideas to explore Ethical consideration of decision-making A broader concept of Technology Assessment is needed Promotion of low-tech, creative and low costs technologies to address the needs of developing countries Cooperation with national institutes for Technology Assessment is needed as well

5. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 5 Sustainable technologies « Creative destruction » (Schumpeter): the cost of growth Accummulation of capital vs. scarcity of natural resources

6. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 6 Shorter lifetime of technological objects Growing use of disposable items –Tissues, cameras, syringes, packages Rapid obsolescence and replacement of machines –Cellular phones, cars, computers, Non reparability –Replacement of parts or of the whole is preferred to reparation

7. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 7 Disposability: environmental consequences Waste of resources It worsens the issue of waste management… …in particular non-recyclable wastes

8. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 8 Ethics of Nanotechnology Lack of research on ethical, legal and social implications on nanotechnology Self-reproductive system beyond direct control December 2003: Discussion by COMEST July 2005 and December 2005: An expert group will be set up to explore potential areas for international action

9. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 9 Ethical Issues Related to Outer Space Activities Issues related to universe exploration Space débris Issues related to earth observation Issues related to communication Issues related to benefits and risks of space activities

10. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 10 Ethics of Outer Space in UNESCO: Background 1999: Report « The ethics of space policy » 2001: Recommendations of COMEST 2001-2005: Collaboration with the Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS)

11. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 11 Ethics of Outer Space in UNESCO: Objectives To raise awereness about ethical issues related to space activities To develop ethics of outer space both as scientific discipline and a civic commitment (prospective approach) To involve both space and academic communities

12. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 12 Ethics of Outer Space in UNESCO: Activities – 1 Cooperation with the European Space Agency: –Symposium on Astronauts, Paris, 29 October 2004 –Ethical Working Group on Planetary Protection and exobiology –Participative Approach to the Development of a European Strategy for Space Exploration

13. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 13 Ethics of outer space in UNESCO: Activities – 2 Exploration of the possibilities of international action and international cooperation –Collaboration with the Committe on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) –Policy Document Framework of an international instrument Other proposals –Multilateral consultations of experts on the Policy Document

14. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 14 Ethics of outer space: COMEST recommendation to UNESCO Non feasibility of an international instrument Emphasis on awareness raising and education Reinforce international cooperation and involvement

15. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 15 Ethics of Technological Innovation Welfare PATENT Malaise Society Technical knowledge Society Technical knowledge CatalystRegulator

16. World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Fourth session of COMEST Bangkok, Thailand 23 – 25 March 2005 Roundtable on Ethics, Technological Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 25 th March 2005, 2:30 – 4:30 pm 16 Thank you http://www.unesco.org/comest