International Panel on Earth System Governance
We are bringing together hundreds of scholars and experts to conduct the first-ever international scientific assessment on earth system governance.
Earth system governance is at a critical juncture
The interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and widespread pollution are intensifying, while political systems struggle to deliver effective responses. At the same time, geopolitical tensions and growing governance fragmentation are reshaping the landscape of international cooperation.
A focus on institutions and governance
These developments raise fundamental questions: Which types of institutions and governance arrangements are most effective in addressing planetary-scale challenges? Under what conditions do they succeed, and when do they fail? What does current research tell us about planetary justice, democracy, institutional design and the role of law in advancing planetary stewardship?
A call for coherence & collaboration
While a vast body of scholarship exists across disciplines, it remains dispersed across journals, edited volumes and research networks. There is currently no comprehensive, systematic synthesis of the state of knowledge on earth system governance. To inform decision-making, social scientists need to collaborate –effectively, systematically and in a global community of joint scholarship.
To address this gap, the International Panel on Earth System Governance (IPESG) has been established as a new science-based assessment initiative. Supported by the Global Challenges Foundation and rooted in the Earth System Governance Research Alliance, IPESG conducts a large-scale, systematic assessment of the state of research on earth system governance, bringing together hundreds of scholars from around the world.
