Future Earth

Launched in 2015, Future Earth mobilizes the scientific community to address the complex challenges facing people and the planet. As a global research platform, it develops actionable knowledge to inform policymakers, support societies, and accelerate transformations toward sustainability.

At the core of Future Earth, there are 25 Global Research Networks, supported by a distributed Secretariat spanning multiple global hubs and national committees, to enable inclusive, regionally attuned collaboration and engagement. Future Earth also convenes and coordinates interdisciplinary initiatives on scientific assessment and synthesis to connect scientific expertise with societal needs. Our commitment to open science, equity, and global collaboration ensures that our work contributes meaningfully to providing knowledge to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals and other global agendas.

Future Earth builds on more than three decades of global environmental change research developed through the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP, 1989-2015), DIVERSITAS (1991-2014) and the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP, 1996-2014). IGBP, DIVERSITAS and IHDP were merged to form Future Earth following a major scientific conference they co-organised with the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) in 2012, Planet Under Pressure, which called for a new approach to research to address mounting pressure on the Earth system and the urgent need to seek global sustainability solutions.

The ISC and Future Earth

ISC is one of Future Earth’s custodian organizations, together with the Belmont Forum of funding agencies, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In this role, ISC helps ensure the fulfilment of Future Earth’s vision and mission by leveraging its networks and other resources, and by safeguarding Future Earth’s core values. ISC engages directly with Future Earth’s Executive Director and Governing Council, monitors its activities, and initiates programme reviews.

ISC contact person

Anne-Sophie Stevance

Anne-Sophie Stevance

Senior Science Officer, Head of Unit

International Science Council

Anne-Sophie Stevance

Photo by Future Earth.