What’s New
Overview
Future Earth is an international research programme for global sustainability. We coordinate research to generate new knowledge and solutions relating to our dynamic planet, global sustainable development and transformations to sustainability. Our vision is for people to thrive in a sustainable and equitable world.
Future Earth aims at a partnership between the research community and the society. We bring the world’s leading centres and experts in research for global sustainability into a single open network in order to support a more agile global innovation system.
Background and History
A prerequisite for long-term human development is a stable Earth system. This stability, which has allowed civilisations to flourish, is now at risk. Nations have acknowledged the need to act through adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Internationally coordinated research is an essential part of the solution.
Future Earth was launched at the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and at the 2012 Planet Under Pressure conference. We became fully operational in 2015 with the launch of five Global Hubs, four Regional Centres and the appointment of our first Executive Director. Future Earth will run for ten years from 2015.
Future Earth builds on more than two decades of successful international science collaboration in the WCRP, IGBP, DIVERSITAS and IHDP programmes.
Organization
Future Earth is led by a Governing Council and supported by two advisory bodies: a Science Committee and an Engagement Committee. These bodies are appointed by and report to the members of the Science and Technology Alliance for Global Sustainability, which acts as the Governing Council.
The work of these bodies is supported by the Future Earth Secretariat under the direction of the Future Earth Executive Director, Paul Shrivastava. The Secretariat coordinates the scientific projects and performs the day-to-day management of Future Earth, ensuring coordination across themes, projects, regions and committees, and liaising with key stakeholders.