International Council for Science (ICSU) is a non-governmental organization representing a global membership that includes both national scientific bodies (104 members) and international scientific unions (29 members).

Through this extensive international network, ICSU provides a forum for discussion of issues relevant to policy for international science and the importance of international science for policy issues and undertakes the following core activities:

• Planning and coordinating interdisciplinary research to address major issues of relevance in both science and society;
• Actively advocating for freedom in the conduct of science, promoting equitable access to scientific data and information, and facilitating science education and capacity building;
• Acting as a focus for the exchange of ideas, the communication of scientific information and the development of scientific standards;
• Supporting in excess of 600 scientific conferences, congresses and symposia per year all around the world, as well as the production of a wide range of newsletters, handbooks, learned journals and proceedings.