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A New Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability

A New Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability. Earth System Visioning Process. Function. Form. Transition. 2009 2010 2011. Cape Town Belmont Forum ICSU ISSC. Establishment of Belmont Forum ICSU. Visioning process: Step 1. Function.

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A New Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability

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  1. A New Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability

  2. Earth System Visioning Process Function Form Transition 2009 2010 2011 Cape Town Belmont Forum ICSU ISSC Establishment of Belmont Forum ICSU

  3. Visioning process: Step 1 Function • 5 Grand Challenges • Natural sciences, social sciences and humanities • Disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary

  4. Grand Challenges: overarching goals • A two-fold research challenge: • develop effective response strategies to ongoing global change • deepen our knowledge of the functioning of the Earth system New ways of doing research • implement a more balanced mix of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinaryresearch • actively involve stakeholders and decision-makers • transition from research dominated by natural sciences to research involving the full range of sciences and humanities

  5. Grand Challenges: Publications Reid et al. 2010 Science

  6. Visioning process: Step 2 Function Form • 5 Grand Challenges • Natural sciences, social sciences and humanities • Disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary • Business as usual is not an option • Need a unified structure

  7. Visioning process: Step 3 Function Form Transition • 5 Grand Challenges • Natural sciences, social sciences and humanities • Disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary • Business as usual is not an option • Need an overarching structure • New Joint Integrated Strategy governed under unified framework • Aiming at strategically integrating GECs, ESSP and other structures

  8. Visioning and Belmont Forum: convergence Function Form Transition 2009 2010 2011 Establishment of Belmont Forum ICSU Cape Town Belmont Forum ICSU ISSC

  9. Initiative goals • Deliver knowledge to respond to global change • Effectively bridge the science – policy divide at global and regional scales, enabling science to be more readily applied in service of society. • Address the grand challenges • Better science (regional, new disciplines, etc.) • Mobilize more research support for existing needs, while also expanding support for new needs identified in the Grand Challenges. • Engage a new generation of researchers • Broaden the base of scientists involved in the global change research network and enable it to better reflect the expertise, priorities and passions of young researchers

  10. Design criteria: building on strenghts Programs Projects Challenges IGBP Grand Challenge #1 Diversitas Grand Challenge #2 Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability • The Initiative will build on the existing base, not replace that base or add another program • Existing projects are core elements. • Need to ensure organizational structure can most effectively deliver on goals

  11. Design criteria: co-design Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability Scientists Users Funders 2. Partnership between Funders, Scientists, and Users • Co-design of initiative • Transdisciplinary research

  12. Design criteria: regional components Global Research Global Users Regional Research Regional Research Regional Research Regional Users Regional Users Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability 3. Built around strong regional components • Identify and respond to needs at regional and national scales • Regional research is increasingly needed to understand Earth system • Facilitates involvement of young scientists and builds capacity

  13. Design criteria: engaging decision-makers Global Users Projects Challenges Regional Users Grand Challenge #1 Grand Challenge #2 Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability 4. Must facilitate active engagement with decision-makers

  14. Design criteria: network 5. Needs a cutting-edge network structure facilitating • Knowledge management • Identify network-wide research priorities, ensure the priorities are addressed and solutions delivered • Adaptability and flexibility as challenges evolve • Bias for innovation to ensure flow of new ideas and talent • Mobilize network to support needs of regional nodes while mobilizing regional nodes to address global questions • Distributed network management and coordination

  15. Other design criteria 6. Actively engage full range of disciplines 7. Actively engage young scientists 8. Solid business plan for operating costs and alignment with research funders on research priorities

  16. Governance Alliance Transition Team (Interim Board) Governance tbd Expert Group Expert Group Programs, Projects, Regional Nodes Staff, consultants Staff UNESCO, IOC UNEP WMO … Design Phase (18 mo) Implementation

  17. Elements of the design process • Analysis of existing research • Initiative Design • Input of expertise about other private sector and public sector research networks • Consultation with stakeholders • Development of the organizational model and governance arrangements • Identification of enabling processes (M&E, fundraising, knowledge management) • Selection of regional nodes • Development of business plan • Approval by sponsors and funders

  18. Initiative timeline Integration of existing projects October 2012 New governing body Outcome of design process New projects -

  19. Initiative next steps • setting up a Transition Team to start the implementation phase of the initiative. The Transition Team: • would govern the initiative until a permanent body is appointed; • would be complemented by one or more working groups with specific design purposes (e.g. integration of existing structures, scientific planning). • presenting a proposal on the initiative • at the next Belmont Forum meeting (April 2011); • at the WMO Congress (June 2011); • at the IOC Assembly (June 2011); • at the next ICSU General Assembly (September 2011); • at the ISSC Executive Committee (November 2011); • … • launching the initiative in two stages: • pre-launch at the “Planet under Pressure” Conference (March 2012); • launch at the “Rio+20” UN Conference on Sustainable Development (June 2012).

  20. The way forward: key messages for GEC • This is a strategic 10-Year Research Initiative • It will build upon existing strengths (the GEC lego blocks) • Messages ICSU will take forward to Belmont and the Transition Team • At least one GEC representative should be in the Transition Team • The project work should be ‘protected’ • Participation of the GEC community will be critical in proposing to the Transition Team how to implement integrationof research and structures in the Initiative • To minimize any confusion, ICSU will provide a road map and FAQs, which will be posted on the Visioning web site • Take home message: the Sustainability Initiative aims to ensure the continued engagement of the scientific community, in all relevant disciplines, and will work to strengthen international science.

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