The Future Earth program, initiated by ICSU and ISSC, is now established, and researchers around the world are working with stakeholders on the development of the trans-disciplinary research needed to resolve some of the key challenges for global sustainability. A significant aspect of Future Earth is that it is building on the global environmental change programs that have successfully promoted international collaboration for some decades. The Monsoon Asia Integrated Region Study (MAIRS) program is a regional environmental change program that has promoted regional collaboration across mon soon Asia for nearly a decade. At the meeting of the MAIRS Scientific Steering Committee in Guangzhou, China in March 2013, it was agreed that a strategic science plan should be prepared to show how MAIRS could link to Future Earth in Asia. The plan, which would aim to be consistent with the global plans for Future Earth but also rec ognise the unique qualities of Asia and its challenges for sustainability, would be prepared in cooperation with partners such as the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) in Japan.
To commence the process to prepare the plan, a small international workshop of invited experts was held on 31 July to 2 August 2013 at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. The participants in the Hong Kong workshop are listed in Appendix 1. The workshop was excellently led by Professor Tetsuzo Yasunari, Director General of RIHN. At that meeting an outline was prepared as the basis for the current draft plan, with input from representatives of the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
This draft plan is now being distributed to the broader stakeholder community to seek guidance on the improvement of the document. Input is being sought especially from the international community involved in the consolidation of Future Earth, so that this plan can support the directions being taken in worldwide plans for the program.
