Independent science should serve as a foundational pillar in shaping policies for sustainable development. The IPCP champions the involvement of academic researchers in policy processes. At the global level, notable opportunities for academic input include participating as an observer in international negotiations such as the Plastic Treaty and the Science-Policy Panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention. To participate in UN meetings, an organization need to be affiliated with an officially accredited UNEP organization. The prerequisites for obtaining accreditation status include being a non-governmental and nonprofit entity with a focus on environmental issues with a national or international scope.
Meeting the non-governmental requirement poses a formidable challenge for public universities funded through public means. Despite this hurdle, five public universities have successfully obtained accreditation with UNEP. To better understand the underlying decisions, the IPCP board initiated a dialogue with UNEP seeking clarification on the interpretation of the non-governmental requirement.
UNEP replied that “The classification of a university as a “public university” hinges on its funding sources, governance structure, and commitment to the public interest. (…) However, the dynamism of these definitions, influenced by political cultures and the relationships between states and higher education institutions, renders the concept of ‘public’ inherently fluid and sometimes ambiguous. The specifics of what constitutes a ‘public university’ can vary significantly by jurisdiction”.
UNEP further welcomed applications from public universities and suggested that the application should include “a letter stating that the University is non-profit, explaining the scope of autonomy from the state”. Also, additional information such as whether the university has been a previous observer at UN meetings should be included.
This development is indeed noteworthy, as it provides an opportunity for academic researchers to be actively involved in shaping global environmental policies without having to be affiliated with other nonprofits. The expected time from application to approval by UNEP is three months. If you have questions or suggestions about this process, please contact IPCP board member Marlene Ågerstrand, Stockholm University (marlene.agerstrand(-at-)aces.su.se).
Additional reading
UNEP Accreditation: https://www.unep.org/civil-society-engagement/accreditation
Carney Almroth B, Abeynayaka A, Diamond ML, Farrelly T, Fernandez M, Gündoğdu S, Issifu I, Rognerud I, Schäffer A, Scheringer M, Villarrubia-Gómez P, Varea R, Vlahos P, Wagner M, Ågerstrand M. 2023. Obstacles to scientific input in global policy. Science 380 (6649): 1021-1022. DOI: 10.1126/science.adi110