Dec

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

4 December 2025 14:30 to 16:30 | Seminar

A composition of photos of the speakers. Illustration.

Science-policy platforms like IPBES and IPCC play key roles in global environmental governance. A new panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution is being formed, but concerns have emerged about corporate influence and sidelining of science—also seen in the plastics treaty talks. This seminar gathers experts from IPCC, IPBES, and the new panel to explore how scientific knowledge is used or marginalized in negotiations, and how scientists can safeguard integrity amid political and corporate pressures.

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?

Draft Program

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

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; 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

Registration

You can choose to attend either in person or online: Seminar: Safeguarding science in multilateral negotiations

The seminar is hosted by:

The Healthy Living Planet Initiative, The Faculty of science and technology, University of Gothenburg

In collaboration with

the Centre for Future Chemical Risk Assessment and Management (FRAM) and
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Climate (BECC) at Lund University and University of Gothenburg