PROMOTING INFORMED ACTION THROUGH
SOUND ADVICE ON GLOBAL CHANGE.

 
The Canadian Global Change Program (CGCP), founded in 1985 under the Royal Society of Canada, seeks to promote informed action in support of sustainable development through sound advice on global change.

As an interdisciplinary and multi-agency network, the CGCP brings together researchers from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to assess the significance of research in a policy context, plan interdisciplinary research, and communicate global change information to decision makers and the general public in clear, concise language. As a national, bilingual organization, the CGCP has demonstrated its capacity for forging partnerships and undertaking initiatives in all regions of Canada.

Core funding for the CGCP is currently provided by the federal government, through the Green Plan. Project funds and other support are provided by the Richard Ivey Foundation, several federal departments and research agencies, universities, the private sector and non- governmental organizations.

CGCP activities are guided by a volunteer board of directors of experienced scientists, decision makers and communicators drawn from all sectors of Canadian society. The board also operates through its executive, research/policy and communications/education committees. A small Secretariat, based in the Ottawa offices of the Royal Society, coordinates the activities of the CGCP.

In carrying out its mission, the CGCP is guided by three key commitments:

sustainable development
The CGCP is committed to the goal of sustainable development — meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development is fundamental to any successful response to the challenge of global change. Any move to sustainability must be based on solid scientific understanding.

proactive action
The CGCP is committed to a proactive approach to research and policy. It believes that, in many cases, we cannot wait for definitive evidence before taking decisive action. Rather, our actions must be guided by the precautionary principle set out in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: "Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, scientific uncertainty shall not be used to postpone cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation."

collaboration
The CGCP is committed to working collaboratively with other Canadian and international organizations. It plays a pivotal role in building partnerships among a wide range of organizations, including those not directly involved in the past with scientific or environmental questions.