History of the evolution of the science agenda

The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), at its 18th meeting (Mendoza, Argentina, 2003), confirmed the validity of the four areas of research of the Scientific Agenda but agreed on the need of reviewing and updating them. The SAC established two working groups of members to re-draft the paragraphs under each area of research. The recommended text, Document EC-XVII-CoP-X, was presented to the Conference of the Parties at its 10th meeting (Boulder, United States, 2003) for its consideration.

The advice of the SAC was adopted by CoP10 in Decision X/11.

During the intersessional period of 2018-2019, the SAC and the SPAC revised the Scientific Agenda to better reflect emerging national priorities and to discuss its alignment with the new IAI Strategic Plan. The SAC and the SPAC were of the opinion that the four areas of research remained relevant to meet the challenges posed by global change but revised slightly the subjects under each of the four areas. Additionally, during discussion under this agenda item at CoP-27, Canada recommended a few additional revisions to the text of the Agenda. The revised Agenda was adopted at CoP-27 by consensus.

CoP-27 also adopted Decision XXVII/5. Which instructed the SAC and the SPAC  to further revise and update the IAI Scientific Agenda in line with the IAI Strategic Plan to better reflect transdisciplinary research and science with special attention to human issues and systems.
Parties at CoP-28 (Videoconference, 2020) considered the revisions made during the 2019-2020 intersessional period. Parties reached consensus at CoP-28 to not approve the revised IAI scientific agenda and to request the IAI Directorate to inform Parties via a notification that they may submit comments, revisions or suggestions for consideration at CoP-29. There was also consensus that non-approval of the IAI scientific agenda did not represent negative criticism of the work achieved but an opportunity for Parties to provide additional revisions and comments.

CoP-29 (Videoconference, 2021) considered and approved the revisions made to the Scientific Agenda by Parties, the SAC and the SPAC. Taking into account Article III of the Agreement, namely, that the Institute shall have an evolving Scientific Agenda, the Parties adopted Decision XXIX/12 which instructs the SAC and SPAC, in collaboration with the IAI Directorate, to revise the IAI Scientific Agenda taking into consideration comments and suggestions made by the Executive Council, Parties and partners for consideration by the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties. The full text of the Agenda is available here.