1. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org Scientific and Technical Meeting on Strengthening the Scientific Base of UNEP: A Brief Summary Report Thomas Rosswall International Council for Science (ICSU)

2. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org The Context Important UNEP initiative Science is essential to identify environmental problems and develop solutions Policy development should be based on best available knowledge Scientific research – monitoring – assessment - policy

3. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org Central Issues Input necessary from natural, social, engineering and health sciences SC Partnerships are essential: - With the international science community (e.g ICSU and TWAS) - With other components of the UN system (e.g., UNESCO) - With ongoing and planned assessments - With Multilateral Environmental Agreements

4. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org The Survey Provides an excellent point of departure Results are important both for the scientific and policy communities Question 3 identifies needs and gaps to be linked with the 5 clusters of Box 1 Rich discussion in the Scientific and Technical Meeting Broad participation in the consultation

5. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org Recommendations Rich input to UNEP Secretariat but this report focuses on two issues Interlinkages of drivers of change and sectors Strengthening the scientific credibility of the GEO process

6. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org Interlinkages A targeted report linked to the GEO process Mainstreaming environment into the development agenda – MDG and JPI Provide an overview of the assessment landscape Meet objectives of MEAs (partnerships) Build on assessment interlinkages reports (e.g., IPCC, CBD, MA, GEF-STAP)

7. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org Interlinkages (cont.) Address spatial (global, regional, national) and temporal scales Include capacity building as an essential component Adaptive management and social learning UNEP ED to set up an advisory committee to focus on scope, key questions (based on questionnaire), authors and time table

8. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org Interlinkages (cont.) Ensure linkages to the GEO process and products Build on the needs and gaps identified in the questionnaire survey

9. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org Science and GEO It is essential to strengthen the scientific credibility of GEO Strengthen linkages with other assessments and the international scientific community (e.g., ICSU and its SCOPE) Ensure that a sufficient number of collaborative centres with high scientific credibility are involved

10. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org Science and GEO (cont.) Address multiple scales Improve the review process For capacity building, collaborate with the various institutions involved and link to, e.g., UN Decade on education for sustainable development As one example, for GEO4, look specifically climate change and biodiversity interlinkages

11. Intergovernmental Consultation on Strengthening the Scientific Base of the United Nations Environment Programme............................................................. http://science.unep.org To strengthen the scientific base of UNEP is essential, but this consultation was just a first step in a necessary process. Much more is needed! Science must become more policy relevant and the scientific community is ready to contribute.