Our Vision
We envision a world where science is a fundamental part of decision-making, shaping policies and actions that strengthen health and the environment. By integrating evidence-based science into public and private sectors, we drive innovative solutions that address challenges and support future generations.
Our Mission
To support the use of evidence-based science in public and private decision-making about health and the environment.
Approach
We achieve our mission by conducting research, fostering collaboration, and building connections between science and decision-makers in the public and private sectors. Through partnerships with local governments, industry leaders, and research institutions, we bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical action. Our work supports the development of evidence-based policies, innovative solutions, and informed strategies that address environmental and public health challenges.
History
The Beginning: Committee for the National Institute for the Environment (CNIE)
GCSE was founded in 1990 as the Committee for the National Institute for the Environment (CNIE). Its mission was "to improve the scientific basis of environmental decision-making by bringing about the establishment of the National Institute for the Environment (NIE) and supporting the successful implementation of its principles and programs." The National Institute for the Environment would support interdisciplinary research, scientific assessment, information dissemination, and education.
CNIE brought together a diverse constituency through education and outreach to endorse the NIE concept, including 284 universities; 84 scientific professional societies and academies of science; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 35 other business groups and chambers of commerce; 17 organizations representing state and local government, including the National Association of Counties and the U.S. Conference of Mayors; 50 national and regional environmental groups; and three former administrators of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, all whom served as former EPA science directors prior to 1993.
In 1997, CNIE persuaded Congress to direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study the creation of an NIE. Accordingly, the National Science Board (NSB), NSF’s governing body, created a Task Force on the Environment. The Task Force's interim report, "Environmental Science and Engineering for the 21st Century: The Role of the National Science Foundation," which was approved by the NSB on July 28, 1999, recommended a bold initiative with a funding target of an additional $1 billion per year to implement nearly all of the activities proposed for the original NIE. On October 27, 1999, CNIE publicly declared its endorsement of the NSB report in a statement to its supporters that declared, "The CNIE strongly supported full funding and effective implementation of all of the NSB's recommendations in an integrated fashion."
In 1999, CNIE suspended the call for the creation of a National Institute for the Environment to work in support of the NSF initiative. This endorsement altered CNIE’s mission to simply "improving the scientific basis of environmental decision-making." On January 27, 2000, CNIE also changed its name to the National Council for Science and the Environment to better reflect this mission and adopted a new strategic plan to implement those NIE-related activities, which the National Science Foundation could not.
Spanning Boundaries Between Science and Decision-Making: National Council for Science and the Environment
From 2000 to 2020, NCSE continued the work of CNIE in service to science and the environment. The first NCSE Annual Conference took place January 27-28, 2000. At this inaugural event, NCSE initiated the John H. Chafee Memorial lecture in honor of the late senator from Rhode Island. In 2001, NCSE began awarding the NCSE Liftetime Achievement Award to recognize exceptionally meritorious contributions to science and the environment. Beginning in 2010, NCSE released a series of reports providing analysis on national trends in environmental and sustainability education and research.
NCSE also began to develop a portfolio of activities focused on collaborations between scientists and decision-makers to achieve a more resilient future.
In January 2020, NCSE celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Annual Conference and the 30th anniversary of the organization.
Harnessing Local Action for Global Impact: Global Council for Science and the Environment
In January 2021, NCSE became the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE). The most urgent challenges of today are not limited by geographic borders. The new name highlights the organization’s focus on effectively harnessing local action for global impact.
About the Logo
The blue orb of the logo symbolizes our common planet, the subject of our environmental and health mission. The nodes and connections within represent our diverse membership and community, and the collaborative nature of our work and leadership. The logo was designed in 2017 by Rob Vance and Sumedha Rao.