To develop global sustainability research ICSU argued that two main shifts are needed in
the world of science:
There needs to be a much greater collaboration and integration between the natural
and social sciences, health science, engineering and the humanities to address
properly the complex inter-relationships between physical and social phenomena.
The increased emphasis on multi-disciplinary research must be coupled by a much
greater involvement in the research process of external stakeholders through an open
and participatory approach building trust in science, and encouraging all actors to take
responsibility for collective action to mitigate and adapt to change