International Geneva Study Trip 2024: Exploring the Contribution of Science to Global Environmental Governance

In October 2024, the Geneva Science-Policy Interface (GSPI) and the University of Geneva’s Institut des sciences de l'environnement (ISE) collaborated with a consortium of European universities, including academic institutions from the 4EU+ Alliance, UCL, and the University of Zurich, to create a unique opportunity for their academic community to build policy engagement capacity and create networking opportunities with U.N. and other policy professionals from the international Geneva ecosystem.

The three-day event offered participants a deep dive into global environmental policy challenges, featuring expert panels, interactive discussions, and real-world examples of how scientific research can inform national and multilateral policy processes. A variety of United Nations mechanisms were introduced to illustrate how academia can contribute to shaping international environmental policies.

Some of the discussions that emanated from panellists’ presentations centred around the following themes:

• Governance: Without strong global and national governance mechanisms supported by science-policy interactions, the ambitious targets set by multilateral environmental agreements will fail to translate into effective actions and policies. Panellists emphasised that more coordinated governance structures from the local to the global level are essential for driving meaningful change.
• Strengthening the interface: Several practitioners emphasised the critical need to strengthen activities and expertise at the science-policy interface. Transparent information sharing, independent assessments, and clear communication between scientists and decision-makers are essential to translating scientific knowledge into actionable policy.
• Implementation: Although the Pact for the Future emphasises the crucial need for policy decisions to be scientifically based, implementation remains a challenge. Scientists are essential in ensuring that policies are based on existing evidence and knowledge while being effectively executed. However, barriers such as political cycles, the complexity of scientific language, and differing national priorities make this difficult.

Strengthening global environmental governance

For a long time in the environment field, natural scientists, social scientists, and economists did not work together. Panellists discussed the progress in seeing these disciplines working in a more transdisciplinary way within current global environmental processes and negotiations. They also stressed the importance of international coordination for global change and the need to reinforce scientific research in certain areas. 

For example on climate science, climate change is not only about global temperature levels and not all countries are affected in the same way. One of the speakers stressed the need for a global governance mechanism that ensures countries do not make isolated decisions, which could undermine collective action against climate change. It was pointed out that governance issues must be addressed both internationally and nationally in a coherent, unified way. While the Paris Agreement serves as a critical framework, science must be at the forefront of policy decisions to provide the scientific arguments and help governments to take necessary actions. As noted in the Pact for the Future, adopted by the United Nations on September 22, 2024:

In pursuit of the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and of the Paris Agreement, we reaffirm the importance of accelerating action in this critical decade on the basis of the best available science, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.

Developing global Networks and communication

Effective communication of science is essential for influencing policy, as echoed by Prof. Vera Slaveykova, UNIGE’s representative to the UNEP's Global Mercury Partnership. She explained how scientific research is critical in reducing uncertainties, developing new methodologies, and raising awareness about environmental issues like plastic pollution.

Additionally, contributing to global assessments is one of the key ways for researchers to be involved in environmental policy. One of the speakers on global panels, Kari De Pryck, Lecturer at the Institute for Environmental Sciences at UNIGE, discussed the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) as an example of how global panels co-produce content in consultation with member states. The process in global assessments includes a diverse range of experts from different disciplines and regions, representing both the Global North and South. While assessments are based on independent research and are scientifically authoritative, the panellists highlighted that the reports must navigate complex political environments, especially at the adoption stage.

Addressing Challenges in implementation

The implementation of science-based policies was a recurring theme throughout the programme. UN organisations often rely on external researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of policies because not all agencies have in-house research units. However, the interaction between scientists and policy professionals is often constrained by bureaucratic barriers. Additionally, some researchers pointed out during the discussions that policymakers may only use the information that suits their needs, leaving critical scientific recommendations unheeded.

Geraldine Pflieger, Professor at UNIGE’s Institute of Environmental Science and frequent delegate to COP meetings, highlighted the challenges researchers face when attending multilateral conferences, where they are often required to negotiate core scientific concepts and communicate their findings in a way that fits the political context. This dynamic can make it difficult for researchers to communicate the urgency of environmental issues according to the scientific evidence. 

Zhanyun Wang, Lecturer at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zurich, stressed that scientists’ participation is crucial to ensure that the new science-policy panel on chemicals and pollution meets its objectives and supports governments to take informed decisions based on science. He noted that interdisciplinary collaboration and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge are critical to ensuring that the panel's work is inclusive and solution-oriented.

Real-world examples and participants’ engagement

Throughout the programme, researchers and policymakers presented real-world case studies to illustrate the practical application of scientific research in policy development. For example, David Siaussat from the Paris Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Sorbonne University presented his research on the environmental impacts of plastic use, offering a risk assessment framework for guiding political and legislative decisions.

Another key highlight was Gregory Giuliani's visual presentation of the complexities of engaging with policymakers, including within UN mechanisms. Using an iceberg analogy, he emphasised the need to understand not just the technical aspects of policy development, but also the relational and political dimensions of working with international organisations.

Conclusion

Based on early feedback, the Geneva International Study Trip 2024 successfully provided a platform for researchers and global policy actors in Geneva to exchange global governance processes and opportunities for researchers in this space. The trip emphasised that effective environmental governance requires interdisciplinary collaboration, clear communication, and the active involvement of scientists in shaping and implementing policies at the national and multilateral levels.

As the participants return to their respective institutions, they carry with them new insights, networks, and a deeper understanding of how to contribute meaningfully to global environmental governance. This initiative serves as a testament to the precious value of collaboration between universities, think tanks, international organisations and other stakeholders in driving sustainable, science-based solutions for the environment.