Dr Michael Brüntrup will contribute to CST operations and oversee a substantially reformed Science Policy Interface.
During the 17th Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar/Mongolia in August, Michael Brüntrup was elected, proposed by the BMZ, as member of the bureau of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST). He is representing the Western European and Others Group (WEOG), mostly developed donor nations including Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with the US as an observer.
In his new position, Michael Brüntrup will have to contribute to the operations of the CST, a subsidiary body of the UNCCD. The CST bureau manages the operations of the CST’s workflow between sessions and oversees the activities of the Science Policy Interface (SPI), a group of independent scientists that translates scientific findings into concrete guidance for decision-makers. That latter activity will be of particular interest in the next inter-session period, because the SPI has been substantially reformed.
Its governance will transition to a dual co-chair leadership structure consisting of the CST Chair and an independent scientist, supported by a „shadowing“ system to ensure continuity. The body’s operational modalities have been streamlined with renewed procedures for both flagship reports and fast-track assessments to boost policy relevance and stakeholder involvement. A sustainable technical support framework inspired by similar international scientific bodies will be established. In addition, a refreshed, globally diverse membership representing various disciplines and career stages as well as non-scientific knowledge bearers will officially take effect in January 2027.
Michael Brüntrup served as national representative of Germany to the CST since 2018. He was also member of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG) on Drought I from 2020-2022 and co-chaired the IWG on drought II from 2022-2024.
