Join the Science Plan Townhall at the 2026 Bath conference

As the current Earth System Governance Science and Implementation Plan (2018-2028) approaches its conclusion, we invite all members of the community to join a townhall discussion on the development of the next Science Plan at the 2026 Bath Conference on Earth System Governance.

This is an opportunity to reflect on how the field of Earth system governance and our community have evolved over the two past decades, and to discuss the priorities, challenges, and research directions that should shape our shared agenda for the critical decade ahead. First insights from the ESG community survey, conducted in July, will be presented and serve as a starting point for a broader community dialogue that will help inform the drafting of the new Science Plan.

The townhall will be chaired by the Science Plan Coordinating Lead Authors: Dhanasree Jayaram, Oscar Widerberg, Rakhyun E. Kim, and Veronica Korber Gonçalves

See the full author list

Plenary Session | Science Plan Townhall

Date and time: Wednesday 9 September, 10:30-12:00 (GMT+1)
Location: Lansdown, Apex Hotel (hybrid for online conference participants)

Agenda

Welcome and introduction to the Science Plan process
Insights from the ESG community survey
Reflections from across the community
- Aarti Gupta, Coordinating Lead Author of the current Science and Implementation Plan
- Alice Vadrot, Lead Author and Co-convener of the Taskforce on Ocean Governance
- Frank Biermann, IPESG
- J.B. Ruhl, VSEC Research Center
- Michael Rose, Lead Author and Convener of the Taskforce on Knowledge Cumulation
- Valeria Zambianchi, Lead Author and Co-convener of the Decarbonization Working Group
Interactive community discussion and Q&A

Community survey on the next Science Plan

To ensure that as many of you as possible have the opportunity to respond, we have reopened the survey. It will remain open until the end of the conference week on 13 September. If you have not yet had a chance to complete it, we would greatly appreciate your contribution.

To the Science Plan survey