Future Earth South Asia Global Secretariat Hub was established at the Indian Institute of Science in June 2021. The Future Earth South Asia Global Hub, hosted at the Divecha Centre for Climate Change (DCCC), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has continued to strengthen its role as a platform for advancing sustainability science, fostering transdisciplinary collaboration, and enabling science-policy engagement. The Hub has engaged with a broad network of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across South Asia, working to translate scientific knowledge into actionable solutions for complex and interconnected sustainability challenges. Its activities have spanned knowledge dissemination, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and policy-relevant dialogues, reflecting a strong commitment to bridging science and decision-making processes.
A central pillar guiding the Hub’s work is the food systems, health and climate solutions framework, which integrates key thematic priorities including food security and malnutrition, health sensitization, coastal risk and resilience, and sustainable communities. Through this integrated approach, the Hub continues to advance sustainability science by promoting systems thinking, fostering cross-sectoral partnerships, and developing context-specific solutions tailored to the South Asian region.
FoHCoS Programme
The FoHCoS programme serves as the overarching framework for the South Asia Hub’s regional activities, linking critical domains of food systems, public health, climate change, and ecosystem resilience. Structured around four interconnected themes which are Food Security and Malnutrition, Health Sensitization, Coastal Risk and Resilience, and Sustainable Communities, the programme aims to develop sustainable practices and analytical tools that support evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation.
FoHCoS informed activities have emphasized the translation of scientific knowledge into practical applications through knowledge-to-action initiatives, stakeholder consultations, and capacity-building efforts. The programme has facilitated interdisciplinary dialogues on sustainable agriculture, climate-resilient ecosystems, urban sustainability, and environmental health, highlighting the interdependencies between natural and human systems in South Asia.
Key engagements have included interactions with state government departments to advance pilot initiatives on sustainable communities, as well as thematic workshops and training programmes addressing forest ecosystems, soil health, and climate adaptation. The programme has also disseminated a series of Science Awareness Webinars that have explored issues such as food systems resilience, air quality and health, marine sustainability, and urban climate adaptation, thereby strengthening public and institutional understanding of sustainability challenges.
In addition, FoHCoS has contributed to high-level policy engagement through national consultations such as the Pre-COP30 workshop, which have brought together diverse stakeholders to deliberate on climate resilience, ecological integrity, and development pathways. These efforts have been complemented by initiatives such as the World Soil Day programme, which have underscored the critical role of soil health in food security, water systems, and climate mitigation.
Through these integrated activities, the FoHCoS programme has continued to reinforce the South Asia Hub’s commitment to advancing transdisciplinary research, strengthening science-policy interfaces, and enabling scalable, locally relevant solutions for sustainable development across the region.
Future Earth and its prospects in South Asia. Current Science, Vol. 123, No. 8, p 0955.
Contact
Location:
Divecha Centre for Climate Change
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore, Karnataka – 560012
South Asia Hub Staff
