The fifth edition of World Green Science Day (WGSD) will be held on December 9, 2026, bringing together scientists, policymakers, educators, industry representatives, civil society organizations, and young people around a shared objective: strengthening international cooperation and turning scientific knowledge into practical action for a sustainable future.

This year’s theme, “International Collaboration, Advocacy, and Stakeholder Engagement for a Sustainable Future,” reflects the growing need for cross-border, cross-sector cooperation to address climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental challenges, and the transition toward more sustainable development pathways.

Established in 2022 by the Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology (ARCST) in collaboration with the Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture (JLASC), UCEVA, UNIVALLE, the International Green Science Center for Latin America and the Caribbean (IGSCLAC) and other international partners, WGSD has developed into an annual initiative connecting scientific communities and sustainability stakeholders across regions.

From Green Science to Global CooperationThe inaugural World Green Science Day was held online in 2022 under the theme “Green Science for and with Society.” Participants and speakers joined from countries including Pakistan, China, Colombia, Mexico, Iran, Bolivia, Benin, France, and Brazil, with approximately 2,000 people following the event online.

Since then, each edition has expanded the initiative’s thematic and collaborative scope.

The progression reflects a broader shift: from promoting green science as a field of knowledge toward strengthening the systems, partnerships, and social participation needed to turn that knowledge into action.

Building Science Culture Through Green ScienceWGSD is closely connected to the emerging framework of Science Culture Construction (SCC), which seeks to integrate science into the cultural and social fabric of societies.

Within this approach, science is not viewed solely as the production and transmission of specialized knowledge. It is understood as a dynamic ecosystem connecting research, education, innovation, governance, public participation, culture, and international cooperation.

For WGSD, this means creating spaces in which scientists can engage not only with other researchers, but also with policymakers, educators, communities, industry, young people, and other stakeholders.

The objective is to strengthen the relationship between scientific knowledge and societal decision-making, particularly in areas where environmental and sustainability challenges require collective action.

The 2026 ThemeThe 2026 theme—“International Collaboration, Advocacy, and Stakeholder Engagement for a Sustainable Future”—places three interconnected priorities at the center of the program.

International CollaborationClimate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource pressures cross national borders. Addressing them therefore requires cooperation among institutions and countries.

WGSD 2026 will provide a platform for researchers, organizations, and policymakers to exchange experiences, explore South-South and North-South cooperation, and identify opportunities for joint research, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and technology development.

Particular attention will be given to experiences and solutions emerging from the Global South, where local knowledge, scientific capacity, technological innovation, and community-based approaches can provide important contributions to global sustainability discussions.

AdvocacyScientific evidence can inform policy, but evidence must also reach the institutions and communities responsible for making and implementing decisions.

WGSD 2026 will therefore explore how scientists and other stakeholders can contribute more effectively to evidence-informed policymaking and public dialogue around green innovation, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

The organizers also anticipate developing a joint declaration or policy-oriented knowledge product, subject to the outcomes of the event and agreement among participating stakeholders.

Stakeholder EngagementSustainable development cannot be achieved by scientists alone.

WGSD 2026 will seek to bring together:

• Scientists and researchers, contributing evidence, innovation, and scientific perspectives;
• Policymakers, addressing policy frameworks, implementation, and governance;
• Educators, exploring ways to strengthen sustainability and green science literacy;
• Industry and innovators, presenting technologies, practices, and business approaches relevant to sustainability;
• Civil society and communities, bringing local experiences and perspectives into the discussion; and
• Youth, contributing new ideas while developing the next generation of sustainability leaders.

This multi-stakeholder approach reflects the central premise of Science Culture Construction: science becomes more effective when it is connected with society.

A Platform for the Global SouthWGSD 2026 will place particular emphasis on the Global South, where many countries face significant climate and environmental challenges while also developing innovative local responses.

The event will seek to strengthen connections among institutions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other regions by:

• facilitating South-South cooperation;
• showcasing locally developed sustainability solutions;
• connecting researchers with policymakers and practitioners;
• promoting knowledge exchange and capacity building;
• strengthening youth participation; and
• expanding access to open scientific and educational resources.

This orientation is consistent with ARCST’s broader focus on strengthening scientific and technological cooperation between Latin America, China, and other regions of the Global South.

Connecting Green Science with New Forms of Public EngagementWGSD 2026 will also explore how emerging technologies and new communication models can broaden access to sustainability knowledge.

Among the initiatives connected to the wider ARCST and JLASC ecosystem is Biopochito AI, an AI-enabled science-curiosity platform that has reached more than 100,000 children in more than 15 countries.

Rather than functioning primarily as a conventional educational chatbot, Biopochito is designed to stimulate children’s curiosity, imagination, questioning, and engagement with science.

The Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture (JLASC) and the Living Portal provide complementary channels for open-access scientific publishing, science communication, educational resources, and capacity building.

Together, these initiatives show how green science can connect not only to research and policy, but also to education, culture, technology, and public participation.

From Dialogue to Practical OutcomesWGSD 2026 is intended to generate practical opportunities for cooperation rather than serving solely as a forum for discussion.

Potential outcomes include:

The precise outputs will depend on the participating institutions, the program developed for the 2026 edition, and agreements reached among stakeholders.

Looking AheadFive years after its launch, World Green Science Day is entering a new phase.

The initiative’s evolution—from “Green Science for and with Society” in 2022 to “International Collaboration, Advocacy, and Stakeholder Engagement for a Sustainable Future” in 2026—reflects a growing recognition that scientific knowledge must be connected with institutions, communities, policies, technologies, and cultures if it is to contribute effectively to sustainable development.

For ARCST and its partners, green science is therefore not only about developing new technologies or generating new research. It is also about creating the conditions for knowledge to circulate, for different communities to participate, and for scientific evidence to inform action.

As the fifth World Green Science Day approaches, ARCST invites scientific institutions, universities, governments, international organizations, industry, civil society, educators, and young people from the Global South and beyond to participate in this growing international conversation.

The future of sustainability requires science. But it will also require cooperation, participation, and a culture capable of turning knowledge into action.

References

ARCST. (2022). World Green Science Day 2022: Green Science for and with Society – Summary Report. Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology.

ARCST. (2023). World Green Science Day 2023: Green Science and Sustainable Development Practice – Summary Report. Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology.

ARCST. (2024). World Green Science Day 2024: Promoting Green Science Across Geographic and Linguistic Barriers – Summary Report. Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology.

ARCST. (2025). World Green Science Day 2025: Building Bridges: Science Culture for a Sustainable Future – Summary Report. Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology.

ARCST. (2026). World Green Science Day 2026: International Collaboration, Advocacy, and Stakeholder Engagement for a Sustainable Future – Concept Note. Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology.

Cabero, M. A. (2023). A new blueprint of collaboration: The Science Culture Construction fostering innovation and green development. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 5(8), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v5i8.1075

Cabero Z., M. A. (2026). Open Science, Dialogue of Knowledge Systems, and the Role of Public Science Communication. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 8(12), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v8i12.1623

Cabero, M., Pérez, J., Ojeda, M. L., Zhang, Z., Lim, T., Hashmi, I., Liu, Z., de Castro, D., Montoya, G., & Wade, D. (2024). Enhancing science and climate literacy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 6(9), 15–21. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v6i9.1206