US turns its back on UNESCO

On 1 January, the US officially left the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, following through on the withdrawal announced by President Trump in October 2017.

Established in 1946, UNESCO promotes the free flow of ideas and fosters peace, security, human rights, and sustainable development. The Paris-based organization is perhaps best known for its designation of World Heritage Sites.

In science, UNESCO was key in supporting the formation of CERN, and it helped launch and realize SESAME, the synchrotron light source in Jordan . It is a governing member of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. “Every country should do a better job of harnessing science for diplomacy,” says William Colglazier, former science and technology adviser to the US secretary of state. “That’s something UNESCO is great at facilitating.”

A current hot topic is Plan S. The US view will be missing if UNESCO discusses the controversial open-access initiative for scientific publishing spearheaded by European funding agencies.

“UNESCO can’t ignore the biggest scientific community in the world,” says Ernesto Fernández Polcuch, the organization’s science policy chief. “The US is a major player in science policy and innovation. It’s not about the money; it’s about the engagement of the whole world.”

At some meetings, US observers can still share their views, Fernández Polcuch says, but they are the last to speak and they get less time than representatives of member countries. Other countries will fill the vacuum created by the US’s weakened voice, he adds. Communication continues to take place through informal rather than official channels. That may work as long as people know each other and are motivated to make the effort, but with time and turnover it will inevitably grow more difficult. The US withdrawal is “a lose–lose situation,” says Fernández Polcuch.

Some 644 UNESCO chairs in 126 countries serve as liaisons with the organization. The 18 current US chairs can continue, but no new ones will be appointed.

In leaving the organization, “the US brand and influence has taken a big hit,” Colglazier says. “The US is shooting itself in the foot by not being involved.”

The US stopped paying dues to UNESCO in 2011, when the organization welcomed Palestine as a member; a 1990 US law prohibits funding any UN organization that “accords the Palestine Liberation Organization the same standing as member states.” The curtailment of US funding punched a 22% hole in the annual budget of the organization, forcing it to cut jobs and activities. The US now owes more than $650 million in back dues.

The State Department said the decision to pull out reflects US concerns “with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO.” Israel also withdrew. UNESCO now has 193 member nations.

It’s not the first time the US has quit UNESCO. The US withdrew in 1984 and rejoined in 2003. But this time the withdrawal is part of a wider pattern of walking away from international agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Paris Climate Accord, and the Iran nuclear deal.