You are on page 1of 4

Future Earth

research for global sustainability

Future Earth is a new 10-year international integrated research initiative that will develop the knowledge for responding effectively to the risks and opportunities of global environmental change and for supporting transformation towards global sustainability in the coming decades.

A unique Alliance for Future Earth


Future Earth is established by an Alliance of diverse stakeholders that include researchers, funders and users of environmental knowledge. The Alliance currently includes: The International Council for Science (ICSU) The International Social Science Council (ISSC) The Belmont Forum (a high level group of major research funders) UN University (UNU) UN Environment Programme (UNEP) UN Education Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) * WMO is an observer. A global platform Future Earth will be a global platform for international research coordination and engagement of stakeholders in support of global sustainability, with strong components at the regional level. Future Earth will transform the way of doing research, bringing together different fields of science, linking global environmental change research to development concerns and delivering knowledge to support solutions that move toward a future of environmental, social, and economic well-being. To achieve this goal, Future Earth will join together and enhance existing endeavours, including the global environmental change programmes and projects, and mobilise the broader international community to create new solution focused projects and foster new capacity across the world.

Future Earth will provide: Solution-orientated and focused Earth system research for sustainable development such as understanding the interactions between environmental change, ecosystems and human needs for food, water, energy, health Effective interdisciplinary collaboration across natural and social sciences, humanities, economics, and technology Participation of policy-makers, funders, academics, business and industry, and other sectors of civil society in co-designing and co-producing research agendas and knowledge Capacity building in science, technology and innovation, especially in developing countries Access to scientifically sound and updated information for decision-makers, through enhanced scienceuser links at all scales Engagement and mobilization of a new generation of scientists

Timeline
Future Earth arises from the outcomes of a broad consultative process on Earth system research (ICSU-ISSC Earth System Visioning, 20092011) and other similar efforts, such as that of the Belmont Forum of funding agencies. Future Earth is currently being designed by a multi-stakeholder committee on behalf of the partners of the Alliance, and will be presented at the Science and Technology Forum associated with Rio+20 (June 2012). It is expected to be operational in 2013.

Come, learn more and give your views: Future Earth at Planet Under Pressure
Tuesday 27 March: 12:30 (room 11) Key event: Future Earth 18:00 (room 16) Town hall meeting on Future Earth Thursday 29 March: 10:00 (plenary) Johan Rockstrm: Future Earth and a new contract between science and society

Future Earth Transition Team


Co-chairs: Diana Liverman and Johan Rockstrm. Members: Tanya Abrahamse, Bertha Becker, Rohan DSouza, Karl Jones, Rik Leemans, Peter Liss, Harold Mooney, Isabelle Niang, Karen OBrien, Hermann Requardt, Roberto Sanchez, Martin Visbeck, Robert Watson, Tandong Yao, Stephen Zebiak and Alliance representatives.

www.icsu.org/future-earth
Contact: Roberta Quadrelli, Science Officer at ICSU: roberta.quadrelli@icsu.org + 33 642 79 37 71
international social science council

Photo credits: www.dawide.com, ESA, Indigo, Gilles Graber, Photolibre Design and layout : Carmela Garipoli
United Nations Educational, Scientic and Cultural Organization

With the support of

Natural Sciences Sector

You might also like