Science-policy interfaces such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) produce extensive evidence for global environmental decision-making, but there are often no clearly defined processes for integrating their findings into multilateral environmental agreements. This memo examines how science uptake is shaped by political interests, institutional processes and different understandings of scientific knowledge, arguing for more deliberate and regular mechanisms to connect scientific assessments with policymaking. It also highlights the importance of recognizing both consensus and disagreement, as well as questions of equity and competing perspectives on how environmental challenges should be addressed.
