Global Change - International Geosphere-Biosphere

Global ChangeInternational Geosphere-Biosphere ProgrammeIssue 84 November 2015IGBP ANDEARTH-SYSTEMSCIENCEwww.igbp.netEarth-system science for a sustainable planet

ContentsGlobal Change Issue 84 November 2015Cover imageThe Earth system crystallised as an object of inquiry in the early 1980s. IGBP was set up to focuson the interactive physical, chemical and biological processes that regulate this system as well asthe influence of human actions. Here the system is represented as a cell under a microscope. Theelements surrounding the cell could be creatively interpreted as the various Earth-observationsatellites that have been crucial to IGBP research over the decades.Cover Illustration: Brian Cairns www.briancairns.comREGULARS3 Editorial: Sybil Seitzinger and James Syvitski4 Editorial: Ninad Bondre6 NewsINFOGRAPHICS18 Timeline of global-change research28 IGBP by numbers2024FEATURE8 Reflections on Earth-system scienceFormer chairs and executive directors reflect on IGBP’scontributions to the discipline and the way ahead.14 Growing with IGBP1432Pauline Dube speaks about her longstanding relationship withthe programme.20 Engaging policy: IGBP’s three-decade legacyOn the programme’s interaction with and contributions tovarious policy processes.24 IGBP and Earth observation: a co-evolutionJack Kaye and Cat Downy on the close and productiveinteraction between IGBP and Earth-observation agencies.30 A personal note on IGBP and the social sciencesJoão Morais on the history of social-science engagement.32 Towards Future Earth: evolution or revolution?IGBP's institutional and scientific history may offer somelessons for Future Earth.Global Change has primarily publishedresearch and opinion from within theextensive IGBP network.Published by:IGBP Secretariat,The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences,Box 50005, SE-104 05, Stockholm, SWEDENEditor: Ninad Bondreninad.bondre@igbp.kva.seGlobal Change Issue 84 is the final issue ofthe magazine to be published by IGBP.Production Manager: Naomi Lubicknlubick@nasw.orgISSN 0284-5865Printed by Bergs Grafiska, SwedenGraphic Designer: Hilarie Cutlerhilarie@igbp.kva.se2 Global Change Issue 84 November 2015308

EditorialSybil Seitzinger,Sybil SeitzingerExecutiveand JamesDirector,SyvitskiIGBPIGBP emerged inthe mid-1980s inresponse to thegrowing recognitionthat understanding theEarth system requiredan international,integrative effort. It wasChairan ambitious undertakingJames Syvitskithat, by almost anymeasure, has turned out to be a resounding success.Suffice it to say that the advances in Earth-systemscience or the development of the Anthropoceneconcept would not have happened without IGBP.But all good things must eventually come toan end: IGBP will close at the end of this year tomake way for the Future Earth initiative. Whilethe Secretariat in Stockholm and the globalScientific Committee will cease to exist, many ofIGBP’s core activities and international projectswill continue under the sponsorship of othercoordinating bodies, such as Future Earth.The development of a highly collaborative globalcommunity of researchers interested in Earth-systemscience is one of IGBP’s greatest achievements.Many in our community say that IGBP providedthe information, tools and experiences that helpedthem to develop a global perspective – a worldviewwith cultural awareness and awareness of thediversity of the environmental changes under way.We want to draw attention to the role ournational committees played, particularly inthe early development of IGBP. Although theirnumber has fluctuated over the years, even inthis final year of IGBP over 50 countries haveIGBP or other global-change committees.These national efforts built capacity by organisingIGBP-oriented scientists within their own countriesand helping to connect them with the broaderinternational IGBP community (see page 14 of thisissue). Many committees were also instrumentalin informing local and national governments onthe many nuanced aspects of global change.NASA played a key role in laying the intellectualgroundwork for IGBP, and many of our researchersworked very closely with NASA and otherEarth-observationagencies such as theNational Oceanicand AtmosphericAdministration (NOAA)and the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA)(seepage 24 of thisFormer Executive Directorissue).This collaborationSybil Seitzingerwas fundamental formuch of IGBP’s success and that of its projects.Among IGBP’s many contributions to policy, weare particularly proud of its scientific contributionsto the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC). As noted on page 20 of this issue, IGBPcontributed to the IPCC since the very first assessmentreport: IGBP fed its research via its community’sauthorship and review of chapters, participationin workshops and panels, and the publication ofpapers and models that were key to the assessment.Most of the heavy lifting has been done by IGBP’score projects. Each of them took on a domain of theEarth system, coordinated international researchand, more recently, connected it to societal issues.Whereas our projects have mostly organised sciencewhile providing timely updates and early warningof newly discovered issues, they have also convertedtheir science into useful products – for example, aland-use classification system and global databasesof greenhouse gases, land-use change and historicalsea-level rise – and summaries for policymakers onsuch topics as black carbon and ocean acidification.The list of those who have contributed to IGBP’ssuccess would run into tens of pages. Here we mustsimply thank all members of our community (youngand not so young) and the IGBP Secretariat throughthe years. We are also grateful to our funders; theInternational Council for Science (ICSU); decisionmakers who have contributed to and used the workof IGBP; and the broader global-environmentalchange scientific and policy communities.We will celebrate IGBP’s legacy and handover the baton of global-change research toFuture Earth at this year’s American GeophysicalUnion meeting in San Francisco. We warmlywelcome you to attend this event! Global Change Issue 84 November 2015 3

EditorialNinad BondreAfrom IGBP’s core projects continueds IGBP draws to a close, fragmentsto inform the content, we openedof the programme’s past havethe magazine up to perspectives frommanaged to find their way to myother actors and on other topics.desk. Among them is a slightly yellowingEditing the magazine has been a greatcopy of the first issue of what used tolearningexperience. My colleaguesbe called the Global Change Newsletter.Senior Science Editorand I have received overwhelminglyPublished in May 1989, this issue marksand AdvisorNinad Bondrepositive feedback over the years.the beginning of IGBP’s diverse andIt’s not fair to single out any onehighly successful communications efforts.article, but for me the opportunity to interviewThe Global Change Newsletter started out primarilyElinor Ostrom – soon after she was awarded theas a source of information for the IGBP communityNobel Prize in Economics and not long beforeand other interested scientists. It carried reportsshe passed away – was certainly a high point.of various committee meetings and workshopsAs the editor of the final issue, here I can voicearound the world, as well as updates from theappreciation of the work of the editors, freelanceSecretariat and IGBP’s national committees.copy-editors, communicators and designersFrom about the mid-1990s, the newsletter began toinvolved in producing Global Change over thecarry an opinion piece by the Executive Director and,years. In alphabetical order these are: Anna Bastås,beginning in the late 1990s, several opinion piecesJohn Bellamy, Gunilla Björklund, Clare Bradshaw,as well as articles addressing outstanding scientificHilarie Cutler, Susannah Elliot, Owen Gaffney,questions. Perhaps the most famous and best citedErik Huss, Naomi Lubick, Sheila Lunter, Suzanneof these is the article on the Anthropocene by PaulNash, Petra Nilsson, Angelina Sanderson, WendyCrutzen and Eugene Stoermer, published in issue 41.Smith, Mary Ann Williams and Bill Young. SuzanneGoing through the early newsletters, I found someNash owes special mention for helping IGBP outgems that should delight not only scientists butfrom time to time even after her retirement.historians of science, editors and communicators too.I acknowledge the Secretariat staff who helped outFor example, I stumbled across a photograph of IGBPin all sorts of ways including mailing and distribution,Scientific Committee members and Secretariat staff inand beyond. On behalf of IGBP I also thank itsfront of the falling Berlin wall in 1989; a report from theregional office in Brazil, which has mailed out copiesUSSR national committee; recollections of IGBP’s settingof the magazine to developing countries aroundup by Thomas Malone; and brief thoughts by Eric Barronthe world for many years. Finally, the newsletter/on the relative merits and demerits of “rich tapestry”magazine would not have been what it is without theversus “flagship” models of IGBP and its core projects.time and energy of its many contributors. CertainlyIn 2009 – the year that former Director ofthe articles I edited underwent numerous revisions,Communications Owen Gaffney and I joinedand I am grateful to all the authors who workedIGBP – the newsletter underwent a transformation,with me for their contributions and patience.emerging in the form of the magazine you haveFuture Earth, the initiative that will replace IGBP,been reading for the past several years. Owen and Iis focusing on various modern communicationboth wanted to reach a much wider audience thattools including blogs and social media. So itincluded policymakers, business and industry, theshould. Yet I am always reminded that manymedia and the general public. We also wanted toreaders of the magazine appreciated havingintroduce a more contemporary look and feel.something to hold and flip through. I hope thatOwen thus oversaw a thorough redesign: heFuture Earth will consider including a magazine inintroduced a front-half including editorial and newsits portfolio of products. If so, the Global Changesections, and a back-half containing commissionedmagazine will serve as an excellent template. and in-house articles. Although research emerging4 Global Change Issue 84 November 2015