18 November 2014: The Science and Technology Alliance for Global Sustainability has announced 15 members of the Future Earth Engagement Committee. The members will provide leadership and strategic guidance on engaging partners and stakeholders of Future Earth – a ten-year global research platform – in designing and disseminating research.

The Committee’s main tasks are to: ensure that Future Earth activities include co-design and co-production principles; mobilize capacity; and promote and support communications. Members will serve for two-year, extendable terms.

Jairam Ramesh, an economist and Member of Parliament in India, will chair the Engagement Commitment for a three-year term. Ramesh served as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability and has participated in UN Framework on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) negotiations. He said he hoped to contribute “to bridging the gap between the world of science and the world of politics” through his appointment.

Committee members include representatives from academia, business, civil society and policy, and have expertise on a range of issues. The members are: James Fahn; Vore Gana Seck; Marina Grossi; Masayo Hasegawa; Mario Hernandez; Yolanda Kakabadse; Amy Luers; Tim Payn; Kari Raivio; Debra Roberts; Björn Stigson; Farooq Ullah; Scott Vaughan; and Ruth Wolstenholme. Three additional members will be appointed in late 2014 or early 2015.

The Alliance appointed an interim Engagement Committee of 7 members in 2013, who will serve until the end of 2014.

Future Earth aims to provide knowledge and support to accelerate transformations to a sustainable world. It brings together three global environmental change programmes: the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), the International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP) and DIVERSITAS.

The Science and Technology Alliance for Global Sustainability is an informal partnership whose members sponsor Future Earth. The International Social Science Council (ISSC) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) currently co-chair the Alliance. [UNESCO Press Release on Committee] [UNESCO Press Release on Chair] [Engagement Committee Member Bios]