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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earth System Governance Project | 1/3 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_System_Governance_Project | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T10:22:16.868105+00:00 | kb-cron |
The Earth System Governance Project (ESG Project) is a global research network that "aims to advance knowledge at the interface between global environmental change and governance. The network connects and mobilizes scholars from the social sciences and humanities researching at local and global scales". The ESG Project has its origins in an international program called the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change. In its current form, the ESG Project began in January 2009. Over time, it has evolved into a broader research alliance that builds on an international network of research centers, lead faculty, senior research fellows and research fellows. It is now the largest social science research network in the area of governance and global environmental change. The Climate Change Leadership Unit at Uppsala University in Sweden is currently hosting the ESG Project secretariat, called the International Project Office (IPO). The ESG Project IPO has previously been hosted at the United Nations University in Bonn, Germany (2009–2012), Lund University in Sweden (2012–2018), and Utrecht University in the Netherlands (2019–2024).
== Aims == The ESG Project aims to "Expand the global mobilization of earth system governance researchers; stimulate and facilitate research collaborations; Inform and advise at the science-policy interface." The project also examines problems of the global commons, as well as more local problems such as air pollution, water pollution, desertification and soil degradation. Due to natural interdependencies, local environmental pollution can be transformed into global changes. Therefore, the ESG Project looks at institutions and governance processes both local and globally.
== Structure ==
=== Members ===
The ESG Project currently (at the end of 2024) has 599 members (also called research fellows), from 57 countries across all continents. In total, there are around 6000 scholars, professionals and students who engage with the network indirectly via social media and the newsletter. This global network of experts consists of people from different academic and cultural backgrounds.
=== Secretariat === The secretariat, called the International Project Office (IPO) is hosted by the Climate Change Leadership Unit at the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden. The secretariat ensures the functioning of this virtual international network. It is the focal point for management and administration, as well as for the communication and network development efforts of the ESG Project.
=== Scientific steering committee and chairs === The ESG Project operates under the direction of a Scientific Steering Committee (SSC). The role of this committee is to guide the implementation of the Earth System Governance Science Plan. For the first ten years, until 2018, the committee was chaired by Frank Biermann, the network's founder. Since 2019, the committee relies on system of rotating leadership, with two co-chairs elected for two years. The SSC currently has 13 members (as of August 2025) from diverse disciplines and geographical regions.
=== Science and implementation plans === An international group of experts came together in 2006 in the Scientific Planning Committee, chaired by Frank Biermann. This committee wrote the first Science and Implementation Plan (SIP) drawing on input for various drafts discussed at global events and conferences. Many scholars and practitioners contributed ideas, advice, and feedback. In 2009, this first SIP was published. In this plan, conceptual problems, cross-cutting themes, flagship projects, and policy relevance were outlined in detail. Beginning in 2015, discussions were held at ESG Project conferences around a new SIP. In 2016 a group of lead authors was selected. After extensive review by the ESG Project's members, the second Science and Implementation Plan was launched at the 2018 Utrecht Conference on Earth System Governance.
== Funding sources == The National Science Foundation of the United States provided about US$15,000 each year since 2015 via Future Earth, an international research platform. This money supports annual meetings of the scientific steering committee. The project does not charge membership fees. Several universities support the project financially, as does the Earth System Governance Foundation. This foundation is a "non-profit charitable organization under Dutch law, created to help channel support from a variety of sources to the earth system governance research community". Funding for the secretariat, the IPO, has been provided from the universities that so far have hosted the secretariat:
2009: in the first year, the secretariat was located within the secretariat of the International Human Dimensions Programme 2009 to 2011: United Nations University in Bonn, Germany 2011 to 2018: Lund University, Sweden (with support by the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies) 2019 to 2024: Utrecht University in The Netherlands (with core funding by Utrecht's Faculty of Geosciences) 2025 - ongoing: Uppsala University in Sweden (with support from the Climate Change Leadership unit, UUniCORN, and primarily, Zennström Philanthropies).
== Activities ==
=== Global networking with research centers === The ESG Project is supported by a global alliance of ESG Research Centers. Currently, 18 universities and institutes are involved. Many of these universities have hosted the annual conferences of the ESG Project, including the universities of East Anglia, VU Amsterdam, Australian National University in Canberra, Colorado State University, Lund University, University of Nairobi, Radboud University Nijmegen, Tokyo Institute of Technology, University of Toronto, and Utrecht University.
=== Publications === There are four major publication series of the ESG Project: