Earth System Governance The Challenge for Social Science Frank Biermann Global Governance Working Paper No 19—July 2006 The Global Governance Project is a joint research programme of eight European research institutions. It seeks to advance understanding of the new actors, institutions and mechanisms of global governance, especially in the field of sustainable development. Co-ordinator Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) Partners Science Po Bordeaux Bremen University Freie Universität Berlin (Environmental Policy Research Centre) London School of Economics and Political Science Oldenburg University Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Wageningen University Endorsed by Institutional Dimensions project of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP/IDGEC)