To understand the earth How ICSU's programmes and partners fit together

Abstract

The international research programmes and observation systems attempting to understand the way in which the ecosystem works, and how human activities influence it, are all a part of a complex, yet logical, puzzle of international cooperation. An unfortunate characteristic of the international system is the habit of beginning all new activities by finding an acronym which is supposed to sound so good that those to be involved in the activity, and especially those who will fund it, will not be able to forget it. Many of these acronyms will inevitably feature in this review. However, beyond the forest of bureaucracy the scientists of the world have managed, in the past 30 years, to organise a coherent global effort to address the question of how better to understand our planet.