Asia Science Mission for Sustainability: Harnessing Expertise for Regional Impact

January 27, 2025  | Oman 

To rapidly accelerate progress on Asia’s most pressing sustainability challenges, an initiative designed and envisioned by Future Earth Asia to build a vast regional network of sustainability experts has been officially launched as one of the first two International Science Council Science Missions for Sustainability. The launch took place during the Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogues in Oman on January 27, 2025 .

The Asia Science Mission for Sustainability pilot aims to drive progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on water management, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem health. The initiative seeks to leverage existing expertise and established networks to accelerate sustainability projects and share learnings across the network to coordinate better evidence-based policy and programs for sustainability across the region.

The Asia Science Mission Meta Network Hub is a consortium spearheaded by Future Earth Asia, uniting scientific and research institutions, funding organizations, and community-based groups dedicated to sustainability and addressing global change. This ambitious initiative will be led by Professor Anik Bhaduri and Professor Kazuo Nadoka (co-chairs of Future Earth Asia Regional Committee) with executive support from Future Earth Hubs in Japan, Australia, Taipei and South Asia. Key members of Future Earth National and sub-national committees, regional research networks and from partner organizations, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, and the Australian National University Fenner School, will form the task forces and working groups. All entities are committing expertise towards achieving the targets of this regional initiative.  

Prof. Bhaduri, Director of the Asia Science Mission for Sustainability (ASM), highlighted the importance of collaboration: “This innovative approach brings together partners from across Asia with diverse expertise and experiences to implement transdisciplinary research projects, gain fresh perspectives, and learn from one another. By integrating efforts across borders, this initiative ensures the broad adoption of regionally tailored solutions that effectively accelerate progress toward a sustainable and resilient Asia.”

The Asia Science Mission for Sustainability pilot is a flagship program of the ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific. The flagship program will see the Meta Network Hub deliver two on the ground  pilot projects in Asia over the next three years to demonstrate impact. 

Ms. Ronit Prawer, Director of the International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, described the Asia Science Mission as a critical test of a new way forward to improve outcomes for vulnerable communities. “By supporting applied research projects, the Asia Science Mission for Sustainability seeks to drive real-world solutions that improve the livelihoods and environments of communities throughout the region,” Ms. Prawer said. 

Read the announcement on the Science Missions for Sustainability Pilots by the International Science Council here.

The Science Mission for Sustainability is a series of globally coordinated initiatives by the International Science Council to address urgent sustainability challenges. These missions focus on actionable science, bringing together researchers, policy makers and stakeholders to drive transformative change in areas such as climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development. The aim is to provide innovative science-based solutions that directly contribute to achieving global sustainability goals. Applications for this mission opened in May 2024, and 250 applications were received, with two Science Missions Pilots selected.

The International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific is hosted by the Australian Academy of Science. The five-year programme (2023-2028) is working to ensure that regional needs and priorities are adequately represented in the International Science Council’s global agenda, regional voices are actively engaged in the governance and management of the International Science Council’s work, and the region benefits from the results of that work.