Regional architecture for Future Earth

The document outlines a three-tier governance structure for Future Earth consisting of National Committees, Regional Committees, and Regional Centres. It defines the roles, eligibility criteria, and operational functions of these entities to ensure that regional science priorities and stakeholder needs are reflected in the global agenda. The paper identifies five initial world regions and emphasizes the need for flexibility, inclusivity, and transdisciplinary collaboration to implement solution-oriented research for sustainability.

• Future Earth's sub-global governance is structured around three primary elements: National Committees, Regional Committees, and Regional Centres.
• National Committees serve as bridging points between the global platform and national stakeholders, promoting Future Earth principles and engaging policymakers and business leaders. To be recognized, they must be self-organized, include both scientists and societal partners, and be the sole committee for their country.
• Regional Committees act as advocates for regional interests within the global platform and ensure the global agenda addresses regional science priorities. They are limited to a maximum of 18 members and must include a balance of gender, discipline, and sector.
• Future Earth has designated five initial world regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, and Europe and North America.
• Regional Centres function as the operational arms of the distributed Executive Secretariat within each region, providing core services including coordination, research enabling, communication, capacity building, and synthesis and foresight.
• While not part of the formal governance structure, the architecture allows for non-formal entities such as Regional Forums and regional thematic centres to enhance stakeholder engagement and address specific regional needs.
• The implementation of this regional architecture is contingent upon the Executive Secretariat receiving adequate resources, specifically regional managers and annual travel funds.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2015). Regional architecture for Future Earth. https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop-23-future-earth-consortium-e.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Regional architecture for Future Earth. 2015. https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop-23-future-earth-consortium-e.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Regional architecture for Future Earth |date=April 2015 |url=https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop-23-future-earth-consortium-e.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2015regional, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Regional architecture for Future Earth}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2015}, month = apr, url = {https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop-23-future-earth-consortium-e.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }