Future Earth, a leading international sustainability science program has announced its new leadership, with Professor CHEN Deliang, a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) elected as Co-Chair.

Future Earth is one of the world's most influential platforms for global cooperation in sustainability science. Jointly initiated by the International Science Council (ISC), the United Nations, and other international organizations, it is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research and fostering global collaborative innovation across critical areas such as Earth system science, climate change, ecological and environmental studies, and sustainable development for human society.

The platform brings together leading scientific communities from natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and policy research, and plays an important role in supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and broader global environmental governance efforts.

Born in 1961, CHEN Deliang is a meteorologist by training and a renowned climate researcher. He was elected a Foreign Member of CAS in 2017. He is also a Fellow of the International Science Council, a Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, a Member of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg, a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS), and a Foreign Member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

His extensive research in climate change, Earth system science, and sustainable development, has yielded internationally influential findings, particularly in extreme climate change, climate risks, and Earth system interactions. He has also actively promoted international scientific cooperation and global science governance. CHEN's election as Co-Chair of Future Earth reflects the international academic community's recognition of his scholarly contributions and his leadership in scientific coordination worldwide.

In recent years, Chinese scientists have increasingly taken on leading roles in major international scientific programs. For instance, Professor HE Fuchu, a CAS Member, not only initiated but also now serves as Chief Scientist for the 'Proteomic Navigator of the Human Body' (π-HuB) international program. Similarly, Professor JIAO Nianzhi, also a CAS Member, chairs the UN-backed Global-ONCE initiative. Adding to this list, Professor CHENG Qiuming, another CAS Member, heads the Executive Committee for the 'Deep-time Digital Earth' (DDE) program.