International decade of sciences for sustainable development (2024–2033)
- Yuki Kimura
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
The International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD) was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 25 August 2023, spanning from 2024 to 2033 and led by UNESCO. This global initiative emphasises integrating science, including humanities, traditional and citizen knowledge, as a core pillar of equitable sustainable development. It particularly supports SDG 17 (Partnerships), SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), positioning science as a common good to address pressing challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, disasters and social inequalities.
Analytical overview & early statistics
· UNESCO’s 2021 Science Report reveals that only 0.03 % of publications focus on eco‑alternatives to plastics, 0.02 % on climate‑resilient crops, and 0.01 % on local risk‑reduction strategies, highlighting critical knowledge gaps.
· By mid‑June 2025, UNESCO endorsed 109 initiatives under the Decade in areas such as biodiversity, climate action, open science and sustainable agriculture.
· UNESCO's SDG progress report showed in early 2025 that only 17 % of SDG targets are on track, with nearly half making moderate progress and over a third stalling or regressing.
These figures underscore the urgency of reframing science policy to be more inclusive, interdisciplinary, and globally equitable.
Earth‑Humanity Coalition: Transdisciplinary hubs in action
The Earth‑Humanity Coalition (EHC) was launched in April 2024 to operationalise the IDSSD through a network of transdisciplinary knowledge hubs, involving basic and social sciences, humanities, indigenous wisdom and citizen engagement. Led by a steering committee chaired by Michel Spiro, EHC collaborates closely with UNESCO’s BRIDGES programme to mobilise diverse communities for equitable planetary well‑being.
EHC's charter outlines six strategic goals:
1. Co‑create a “Web of Earth‑Humanity Sciences” , thousands of local to global transdisciplinary hubs.
2. Support a culture of well‑being rooted in science and traditional wisdom.
3. Formulate new research questions (e.g. water as a commons, governance in partnership with Earth).
4. Reframe funding and research agendas globally.
5. Produce practical instruments for sustainable transformation.
6. Co‑construct organisational structures to sustain the Decade’s momentum.
Already, EHC includes over 50 organisations and has endorsed more than a hundred projects worldwide.
Global South focus
· The Pan‑African Citizen Science e‑Lab engages over 600 participants across 40+ African nations in astronomy research and education, responding to multiple SDGs.
· In Mexico, UNESCO endorsed the first Ecohydrology Demonstration Site at Lake Texcoco to blend scientific understanding with traditional ecological practices.
· Intercultural dialogue initiatives, including indigenous leadership, have been mobilised to enhance governance in Biosphere Reserves, a UNESCO-endorsed action from May 2025.
These examples illustrate how Global South contexts are reframing science policy through local leadership, embedded knowledge systems, and equitable governance.
Global society & the future of science
The IDSSD, and its emphasis on partnerships (SDG 17), highlights the importance of global collaboration among UN agencies, governments, NGOs, academia, civil society and local actors. EHC hubs bridge quality education (SDG 4) and inequality reduction (SDG 10) by making science accessible to historically marginalised communities.
Moving forward, key coverage opportunities include:
· Tracking the formation and leadership of community-based citizen‑science hubs.
· Investigating funding trajectories, national policies and how they empower or constrain hub effectiveness.
· Analysing how the initiative is reframing science policy, especially in the Global South, from top-down models to co-designed, culturally integrated approaches.
The International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development marks a pivotal chapter in the history of science policy. It shifts from fragmented, siloed research toward inclusive, equitable, and transdisciplinary science. With endorsed projects approaching 110 by June 2025 and the Earth‑Humanity Coalition advancing operational hubs worldwide, the Decade is well‑placed to reshape global science in service of human well‑being on a healthy planet.
Continued tracking of hub formation, funding patterns, and policy reforms, especially within Global South contexts, will be vital to assess long‑term impact. To stay informed, explore UNESCO’s official Decade portal and EHC’s website:
Together, science, humanities, traditional knowledge and citizen engagement can transform global development. Sustained partnerships, robust education and a focus on reducing inequalities will be essential to delivering on the promise of sustainable, equitable progress.
