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

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

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 transdisciplinary research
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 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
Establishment of Belmont Forum
ICSU
Cape Town Belmont Forum
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
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
Programs Projects Challenges
IGBP
Grand Challenge #1
Diversitas
Grand Challenge #2
Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability

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

12. Design criteria: regional components
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
Global Research
Global Users
Regional Research
Regional Research
Regional Research
Regional Users
Regional Users
Initiative on Earth System Research for Global Sustainability

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

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. Transition Team (Interim Board)
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 April 2011 Transition Team appointed
Presentation of the Initiative at Belmont Forum
May 2011
First Transition Team meeting
September 2011
ICSU General Assembly decision
March 2012
Initiative pre-launch at Planet Under Pressure conference
June 2012
Initiative launch at Rio+20
October 2012
New governing
body
Outcome of
design process
New projects
Integration of existing 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 integration of 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.
GEC lego blocks = projects; stress that ICSU understands the importance of not jeopardizing the research of the projects
Mention the conceptual paper
Mention a possible GEC Integration WG proposal: meet in May to start the work and then hold one more meeting before the end of the year to finalize a paper? The TT will provide a framework/ToR for this WG.
Mention possible Belmont statement?