Future Earth research for global sustainability: The governance structure mechanisms

1. Future Earth research for global sustainability: The governance structure mechanisms Prof. Dr. Rik Leemans ESSP, Transition Team Member & Wageningen University photos: www.dawide.com

2. Future Earth: Research for global sustainability • Introduction • The Stakeholders • The governance structure • Next steps • Funding structure Introduction

3. The background documents Report will be made available on Friday

4. High-impact science magazines follow Future Earth challenges and developments closely and with very highexpectations!

5. Outcomes of Rio+20 “The Future We want” and implications for Future Earth • Engaging major groups and other stakeholders • “48. We recognize the important contribution of the scientific and technological community to sustainable development. We are committed to working with and fostering collaboration among the academic, scientific and technological community, in particular in developing countries, to close the technological gap between developing and developed countries, and strengthen the science-policy interface, as well as to foster international research collaboration on sustainable development.” • [This is implicit support to Future Earth]

6. Pathways to Sustainability Transformations and Solutions Conceptual framework for Future Earth Human and natural drivers Global Environmental Changes Human well-being and human security

7. Principles for Future Earth’s implementation • Science collaboration:Future Earth must provide a platform for collaboration between scientists across all disciplines. It must build upon earlier accomplishments of the Global Environmental Change programmes and all the underpinning disciplinary knowledge. • Engagement with various users:Future Earth must serve as a contact point between scientists and science users. Engaging users in research processes is critical in order to enhance the importance, legitimacy, relevance and applicability of the research. • Relevance to global environmental and societal challenges:Future Earth should support the delivery of science-derived solutions that address global environmental and societal challenges, and should be designed to broaden global change science to promote a transition to sustainability.

8. Guiding principles for Future Earth’s design • Sound scientific basis: Future Earth aims to strengthen our understanding of the Earth system, and provide solid science for a transition towards a sustainable society. • Co-design with stakeholders: Future Earth aims to better connect knowledge and action by producing science that society needs to engage in action, and that can better inform decisions towards global sustainability. • International reach: Future Earth will have a global and regional focus. • Responsiveness and innovative: The governance structure should serve the initiative and provide an adequate framework for implementation. • Diversity: Future Earth must give special attention to disciplinary, geographical and gender balance, and ensure that its activities reflect a diversity of viewpoints. • Sustainable implementation: Environmental impacts resulting from the implementation of Future Earth should be minimized.

9. A system to be phased in as from January 2013and be fully operational by May 2014

10. Future Earth: Research for global sustainability • Introduction • The Stakeholders • The governance structure • Funding structure • Next steps

11. Lessons learned from integrated ESSP science Without understanding the social and political dynamics, aspirations, beliefs and values, and their impact on our own behavior, we only describe the world’s physical, biological and chemical phenomena, observe and document their changes, and apply technology to secure access to resources but would ultimately fail to ensure sustainability. Transdisciplinary research can contribute to solutions for a sustainable world. There is no other viable way forward. The sustainability challenges must be met and the Earth system science community will have an important role.

12. So who are the stakeholders?

13. Co-design and co-production of knowledge requires the involvement of researchersand stakeholders during the entire research process. Slide from G. Klepper’s presentation at Planet Under Pressure

14. Future Earth: Research for global sustainability • Introduction • The Stakeholders • The governance structure • Next steps • Funding structure

15. A 10-year initiative by a new international Science and Technology Alliance for Global Sustainability Future Earth: research for global sustainability WMO is an observer

16. A growing, multi-stakeholder partnership • Established Future Earth • Will promote and support the further development of Future Earth • By building and maintaining the enabling conditions for Future Earth to operate successfully

17. Governing Council Engagement Committee Science Committee Executive Secretariat • The overarching decision-making body, providing strategic guidance on and oversight of Future Earth’s operations and resource mobilisation • To comprise scientists from different fields, policymakers, business, industry and other stakeholders from different parts of the world • Will be appointed by the Alliance • Between now and May 2014 the Alliance will function as an interim Governing Council

18. Governing Council Engagement Committee Science Committee Executive Secretariat The Engagement Committee: • To guide and oversee the implementation of credible processes of co-design, co-production & co-dissemination of research • To include voices from business, civil society and government (i.e. all stakeholders) • Will be established by late 2013 and appointed by the Alliance The Science Committee: • To provide scientific guidance, propose new projects and priority issues, and secure the highest quality research • To represent the full spectrum of scientific fields, as well as scientists from other sectors • Will be established early 2013; appointed by ICSU/ISSC on behalf of the Alliance They must work closely together

19. Governing Council Engagement Committee Science Committee Executive Secretariat • To implement the strategies and activities approved by the Governing Council, carrying out the day-to-day functions of Future Earth • To act as an integrator and facilitator, also coordinating access to cross-cutting capabilities • To be established via an open, competitive call that will be issued by the Alliance • An interim Secretariat, bringing together capacities of existing GEC Programme Secretariats will be operational as from early 2013

20. Governing Council Engagement Committee Science Committee Executive Secretariat A global, integrated knowledge trust To develop distributed knowledge nodes around existing and new, co-designed projects Promoting the underpinning science and synthesis

21. Future Earth as aglobally representative platform Role of regions in linking across scales, integrating knowledge, catalysing transformative initiatives But also a globally distributed platform to ensure that research, capabilities and partnerships are developed at the most relevant level(s)

22. Establishing an Institutional design for Future Earth • Co-design with users Develop distributed knowledge nodes and regional initiatives to address real-world problems at local and regional scales • Steering Committee & Office

23. Future Earth: Research for global sustainability • Introduction • The Stakeholders • The governance structure • Next steps • Funding structure

24. The next steps for Future Earth • Spring 2012: First Belmont Forum call for integrative research • Oct-2012 – Jan-2013: Regional Consultation meetings • Nov-2012: GEC-projects Consultation meeting • Dec-2012 – Apr-2012: Future Earth presentations (e.g. AGU, EGU, AAAS) • Oct-2012: Establishing the Transition Management Project Board • Oct-2012 – Apr-2013:The Alliance will function as an interim Governing Council • Dec-2012 – Apr-2013: Nomination Governing council members and committee members • April-2013:Appointing Governing council members and Science committee members • Dec-2013:Appointing Engagement committee members • Spring-2013:Competitive Belmont Forum call for funding and hosting executive secretariat • April-2014: Future Earth fully operational

25. Future Earth: Research for global sustainability • Introduction • The Stakeholders • The governance structure • Next steps • Funding structure

26. A 10-year initiative by a new international Science and Technology Alliance for Global Sustainability Future Earth: research for global sustainability WMO is an observer

27. IGFA/Belmont Forum: a key funders group • World’s major and emerging funders of global environmental change research, and international science councils • Initiated in 2009, by NSF (US) and NERC (UK) • Acting as Council of Principals for IGFA, a larger group of funding agencies group since 1990s • Australia/CSIRO • Austria/BMWF • Brazil/FAPESP • Canada/NSERC • China/NSFC • European Commission/DG R&I • France/CNRS&ANR • Germany/DFG&BMBF • India/MoES • Japan/MEXT&JST • Norway/RCN • South Africa/NRF • United Kingdom/NERC • United States/NSF • International Council for Science (ICSU) • International Social Sciences Council (ISSC)

28. The complex funding situation of the current GEC programmes..... • GEC Funding is heterogeneous and includes: • Governments • National funding agencies • Intergovernmental organisations • Institutes • In-kind

29. Key Funding Challenges for Future Earth The diversity: e.g. 43 heads at Global Research Council… • Unprecedented scale: Attract and involve various disciplines and new actors in highly complex issues at science-society interface • Fragmentation: No one agency is controlling in their own country the multiplicity of opportunities for environmental research, neither for development research • Transition: Experienced GEC projects and programs have developed effective funding networks but not always in a coordinated way e.g. 13 partners for USGCRP 23 for EU JPI Climate 27 for French Env. Alliance … e.g. 46 countries support IGBP secretariat …

30. Future Earth’s funding thus calls for: • Clear marketable brand of Future Earth, promoting global sustainability research and providing information for adaptation and mitigation • New incentive tools from basic research to international coordination, to network and attract a growing community of researchers and users • Better funders coordination or co-alignment through innovative partnership, at national, regional and international levels • Involvement of science and developmentfunders, private foundations and others • Smooth transition of GEC budget towards extended funding with new stakeholders • A group of key funders to facilitate and network the wide range of funding sources/institutions… The IGFA/Belmont Forum has been asked by the Alliance to coordinate and diffuse a Funding Strategy for Future Earth

31. The strategy should address the whole funding pyramid Some key issues for Future Earth: Build a coherent global web of regional & international offices Typical incentive tools: ≈ 1* M€ Coordination International glue money Sustain research teams across countries & disciplines ≈ 10* M€ International Research International Research Actions ≈ 100* M€ Emergent Research Develop proactive programs on emergent fields, including inter- and trans-disciplinary & solution-oriented research National Thematic Programs Create high visibility flagship to engage existing scientists & build-up a new generation ≈ 1000* M€ Basic Disciplinary Research National Blue Sky Programs * Typical Money Unit

32. Proposed FE Funding strategy • After GEC projects and regional consultation meetings, National Funders Meetings and Regional Funders Meetings should be convened. • Animation by IGFA and Belmont Forum Members in their own country or region, by targeting relevant ministries, others research agencies, foundations, development funders, key regional actors. • Co-organization with GEC Secretariats, Project IPOs and National Committees are required to be efficient, in particular to map current funding landscape and institutions • Deployment in first part of 2013 to allow significant impulse in FY2014 • Around 20 National Funders Meetings could be envisioned, complemented by Regional Funders Meetings with involvement of APN, IAI, START Common guidelines to co-organize Funding Meetings will be draft by the Transition Management Project Board before 2013.

33. For more information on Future Earth www.icsu.org/future-earth