University of Gothenburg
Invited speakers are: Bethanie Carney Almroth, Deliang Chen, Marie Stenseke, Kerstin Stendahl and Martin Scheringer.
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  4. Safeguarding science in multilateral negotiations: What can we learn from IPBES, IPCC, and the New Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals and Waste?

Safeguarding science in multilateral negotiations: What can we learn from IPBES, IPCC, and the New Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals and Waste?

Sustainability and environment
Science and Information Technology

Science-policy platforms like IPBES and the IPCC have become cornerstones of global environmental governance. A new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution is now being established, but many scientists have voiced concerns about strong corporate influence and the marginalization of scientific input. Similar concerns have been raised in relation to the negotiations on a global plastics treaty. This seminar brings together scholars engaged in IPCC, IPBES, and the new panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution to critically reflect on how scientific knowledge is shaped, used, or sidelined in multilateral negotiations. What can scientists do to uphold scientific integrity and influence when political and corporate interests are strong?

Seminar
Date
4 Dec 2025
Time
14:30 - 16:30
Location
Korallrevet, 3401, Natrium Building, University of Gothenburg
Number of seats
100
Registration deadline
3 December 2025
Good to know
You can choose to attend either in person or online.
Organizer
The Healthy Living Planet Initiative, The Faculty of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Centre for Future Chemical Risk Assessment and Management (FRAM) and Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Climate(BECC)
Registration is closed.

Draft Program

14:30 Welcome and introduction
Daniel Slunge, Director of FRAM, University of Gothenburg (Moderator)

14.40 The new science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution 
Martin Scheringer, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, ETH Zurich
Reflections on the design and negotiation of the new panel, including concerns about corporate influence and the undervaluing of scientific input.

14.55 Science at the margins? Reflections from the global plastics treaty
Bethanie Carney Almroth, Professor of Ecotoxicology, University of Gothenburg
Experiences from developing a coalition of scientists to bring science into the negotiations on a global plastics treaty

15:10 Science, values, and vested interests in biodiversity policy: Lessons from IPBES
Marie Stenseke, Professor of Human Geography, University of Gothenburg
Reflections on how IPBES has worked to maintain the credibility of science while engaging with diverse knowledge systems and political expectations.

15.25 Scientific Integrity in the IPCC: A Climate Science Perspective
Deliang Chen, Professor, Tsinghua University, China and University of Gothenburg (online)
Experiences from the IPCC and the balance between scientific rigor and political interests in climate negotiations.

15.40 Safeguarding science in multilateral negotiations

Kerstin Stendahl, Special Envoy on Environment and Security, Ministry of the Environment, Finland; former Deputy Secretary, IPCC (online)

Reflections on how institutional design and political context, shape the ability of global science–policy panels to uphold scientific integrity and inform decision-making. 


16:00 – Panel discussion and open Q&A
Theme: What can scientists do to protect scientific integrity in multilateral negotiations during a time of geopolitical crisis?

16.30 End of seminar

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