International Human Dimensions Programme
Encyclopedia
The International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) is a research programme that studies the human and societal aspects of the phenomenon of global change
.
IHDP aims to frame, develop and integrate social science research on global change, and promote the application of its key findings. It strives to develop research approaches that put societies at the center of the debate, looking at current global environmental problems as social and societal challenges.
IHDP’s work brings together groups of multi-disciplinary and multi-national researchers to work on long-term collaborative science. It’s major role within the scientific field is providing leadership in the selection and development of themes for focused research and in stimulating scientific communities to coordinate their efforts on these themes within the framework of its projects.
IHDP research is conducted by its ten projects. Its six core projects, focus on how humans affect and are affected by climate change, with specific topics including human security
, urbanization
, industrial transformation and environmental governance
as they relate to global change
. Two of its six core projects are also core projects of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and focus specifically on coupled human-environment system
s such as land use
, and coastal zones. It also has four joint projects on the Earth's carbon cycle
, water systems
, human health and food systems
with the other three global change research programmes (ESSP).
(ISSC). It was established under its current name International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change by ISSC and International Council for Science
(ICSU) in 1996. In 2006, the United Nations University
joined ISSC and ICSU as an institutional sponsor of IHDP.
Campus in Bonn, Germany, and is hosted by the United Nations University.
along with the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
, the World Climate Research Programme
, and DIVERSITAS
an international programme for biodiversity research.
Global change
Global change refers to planetary-scale changes in the Earth system. The system consists of the land, oceans, atmosphere, poles, life, the planet’s natural cycles and deep Earth processes. These constituent parts influence one another...
.
IHDP aims to frame, develop and integrate social science research on global change, and promote the application of its key findings. It strives to develop research approaches that put societies at the center of the debate, looking at current global environmental problems as social and societal challenges.
IHDP’s work brings together groups of multi-disciplinary and multi-national researchers to work on long-term collaborative science. It’s major role within the scientific field is providing leadership in the selection and development of themes for focused research and in stimulating scientific communities to coordinate their efforts on these themes within the framework of its projects.
IHDP research is conducted by its ten projects. Its six core projects, focus on how humans affect and are affected by climate change, with specific topics including human security
Human security
Human security is an emerging paradigm for understanding global vulnerabilities whose proponents challenge the traditional notion of national security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be the individual rather than the state...
, urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
, industrial transformation and environmental governance
Environmental governance
Environmental governance is a concept in political ecology or environmental policy related to defining the elements needed to achieve sustainability. All human activities -- political, social and economic — should be understood and managed as subsets of the environment and ecosystems...
as they relate to global change
Global change
Global change refers to planetary-scale changes in the Earth system. The system consists of the land, oceans, atmosphere, poles, life, the planet’s natural cycles and deep Earth processes. These constituent parts influence one another...
. Two of its six core projects are also core projects of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and focus specifically on coupled human-environment system
Coupled human-environment system
Much as space and time came to be linked a century ago, so today’s scientists are exploring a variety of ways in which Earth and its humans are linked...
s such as land use
Land use
Land use is the human use of land. Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. It has also been defined as "the arrangements, activities and inputs people undertake in a certain land cover...
, and coastal zones. It also has four joint projects on the Earth's carbon cycle
Carbon cycle
The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth...
, water systems
Water supply network
A water supply system or water supply network is a system of engineered hydrologic and hydraulic components which provide water supply. A water supply system typically includes:# A drainage basin ;...
, human health and food systems
Food systems
The term "food system" is used frequently in discussions about nutrition, food, health, community economic development and agriculture. A food system includes all processes and infrastructure involved in feeding a population: growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing,...
with the other three global change research programmes (ESSP).
History
IHDP was initiated as the Human Dimensions Programme (HDP) in 1990 by the International Social Science CouncilInternational Social Science Council
The International Social Science Council is an international organisation that aims to promote the social and behavioural sciences. It was founded in 1952, under the auspices of UNESCO.-External links:* **...
(ISSC). It was established under its current name International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change by ISSC and International Council for Science
International Council for Science
The International Council for Science , formerly the International Council of Scientific Unions, was founded in 1931 as an international non-governmental organization devoted to international co-operation in the advancement of science...
(ICSU) in 1996. In 2006, the United Nations University
United Nations University
The United Nations University is an academic arm of the United Nations established in 1973, which serves purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The UNU undertakes research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of...
joined ISSC and ICSU as an institutional sponsor of IHDP.
Secretariat
The IHDP Secretariat is located at the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Campus in Bonn, Germany, and is hosted by the United Nations University.
Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP)
IHDP is a partner of the Earth System Science PartnershipEarth System Science Partnership
The Earth System Science Partnership is a partnership under the auspices of the International Council for Science for the integrated study of the Earth System, the ways that it is changing, and the implications for global and regional sustainability...
along with the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme is a research programme that studies the phenomenon of global change.The International Council of Scientific Unions, a coordinating body of national science organizations, launched IGBP in 1986...
, the World Climate Research Programme
World Climate Research Programme
The World Climate Research Programme was established in 1980, under the joint sponsorship of International Council for Science and the World Meteorological Organization, and has also been sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO since 1993. It is a component of the...
, and DIVERSITAS
Diversitas
Diversitas is an international programme on biodiversity science. It is one of four such programmes that collectively come under the Earth System Science Partnership...
an international programme for biodiversity research.
Projects
- Global Environmental Change and Human Security (GECHS)
- Urbanization and Global Environmental Change Project (UGEC)
- Industrial Transformation (IHDP-IT)
- Earth System Governance ProjectEarth System Governance ProjectThe Earth System Governance Project is a long-term, interdisciplinary social science research programme developed under the auspices of the International Human Dimensions program on Global Environmental Change, and started January 2009. It will conclude in 2018.The Earth System Governance Project...
(ESG) - Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal ZoneLOICZLand Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone is a core project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme and the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change ....
(LOICZ) - Global Land ProjectGlobal Land ProjectThe Global Land Project is a research initiative of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme and the International Human Dimensions Programme . It aims to understand the changes of the land systems given the prospects of rapid and massive global environmental change...
(GLP) - Global Carbon ProjectGlobal Carbon ProjectThe Global Carbon Project was established in 2001. The organisation seeks to quantify global carbon emissions and their causes.The main object of the group has been to fully understand the carbon cycle...
(GCP) - Global Water Systems Projects (GWSP)
- Global Environmental Change and Human Health (GECHH)
- Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS)