International research coordination
In support of its international mandate, USGCRP currently helps provide core budget support to three international science organizations: Future Earth, which builds interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral partnerships to advance global sustainability science; the SysTem for Analysis, Research, and Training (START), which provides opportunities for research, education, and training to scientists, policymakers, and practitioners in developing countries; and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), which is the primary international coordination mechanism for climate system research.
In November 2021, IAIWG brought together representatives from USGCRP member agencies and the secretariats of Future Earth, START, WCRP, and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research to strengthen communication among the organizations and identify opportunities for future collaboration. Outcomes included the potential for collaboration around the development of a transdisciplinary research and leadership capacity-building opportunity.
USGCRP also actively collaborates with the Belmont Forum, an international partnership that catalyzes funding for research in support of resilience and sustainability. The United States played a leading role in the development of a Belmont Forum Climate, Environment, and Health Collaborative Research Action (CRA) launched in April 2019. Several agencies worked together to provide support for U.S.-based scientists to collaborate in the research effort. USGCRP’s Interagency Crosscutting Group on Climate Change and Human Health and IAIWG are assisting with engagement and outreach efforts for Round 2 of the CRA, which is co-chaired by NOAA and NSF. The CRA will support international interdisciplinary research teams working to understand how climate variability and change influence human health and well-being and to support effective responses. Round 2 is prioritizing engagement and participation from lower- and middle-income countries. Scoping workshops have been completed in the regions of Latin America/Caribbean, Asia/Pacific, Africa, and Europe. The call for proposals launched in February 2023 and will support capacity-building and networking activities for prospective researchers, with an emphasis on those from lower- and middle-income countries.