Clause 1. Official Designation

The title of the organization is International Scientific Advisory Committee of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, hereinafter referred to as CRAES-ISAC.

Clause 2. Establishment

With the approval of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of the People’s Republic of China, CRAES-ISAC was founded in November 2018 as a high-level international science and technology advisory body consisting of well-known experts from China and abroad in the field of ecology and environment.

Clause 3. Administration

The Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) serves as the administrative agency of CRAES-ISAC. CRAES-ISAC follows the guidance and supervision by MEE. CRAES-ISAC has five-year term for each phase.

Clause 4. Missions and Tasks

The main task of CRAES-ISAC is to provide consulting opinions and suggestions on the strategic plan, talent cultivation, academic research and brand building for the long-term development of CRAES, so as to better contribute to China’s ecological environmental protection and ecological civilization construction as well as major global environment issues, etc. CRAES-ISAC is committed to promoting the internationalization of CRAES to make it a world-class ecology and environment research institution.

Clause 5. Composition

The CRAES-ISAC consists of approximately 40 domestic and international members, including two Chairs each from domestic and international.

Clause 6. CRAES-ISAC Members

1.Members will be nominated, appointed and invited by CRAES upon the approval by MEE.

2.Members are granted a five-year term, which shall terminate automatically at the end of each Phase. Consecutive membership will not usually exceed three terms.

3.As required by circumstances, members may be added or replaced upon approval by the President of CRAES. A member may be replaced upon approval by the President of CRAES before the end of term if the member fails to carry out his/her duties or if a member resigns for personal reasons.

4.Members will participate in CRAES-ISAC related activities at the invitation, so as to contribute their time and wisdom to CRAES. The activities hereof include but not limited to:

（1）Attending the Plenary Meetings of the Committee;

（2）Attending various workshops and seminars hosted by CRAES as feasible, when invited;

（3）Working part-time at CRAES, as feasible, when invited, to be engaged with research and teaching activities, providing consultative suggestions to CRAES on major research tasks and decision-makings of key planning;

（4）Introducing human and financial resources to help CRAES expand its international cooperation and establish new partnerships, so as to promote progress of CRAES’ internationalization as well as assist in research and construction of China’s ecological civilization.  

Clause 7. Chairs

CRAES-ISAC will appoint two Chairs, consisting of one Chinese and one international, who shall provide overall leadership and guidance to the on-going operations of CRAES-ISAC. The Chairs are nominated by CRAES and reported to MEE for record-keeping.

Clause 8. Plenary Meeting

CRAES-ISAC will hold two Plenary Meetings for each phase to discuss about CRAES’ major strategic issues including strategic plan, talent cultivation, academic research and brand building for the long-term development of CRAES. The Committee's opinions and suggestions shall be formally outlined.

Clause 9. CRAES provides a special fund for the activities of CRAES-ISAC.

Clause 10. The fund designated for CRAES-ISAC will be strictly managed and allocated in accordance with provisions of relevant fund management regulations released by the Chinese government.

Clause 11. The funding for CRAES-ISAC shall be managed through a budgeting and final accounting system.

Clause 12. The Secretariat is a non-permanent agency of CRAES responsible for day-to-day management of CRAES-ISAC. Its main responsibilities include:

1.Daily liaison with the committee members;

2.Organize activities for committee members to provide consulting opinions and suggestions on major research projects and matters of decision-making of CRAES;

3.Coordinate and organize relevant activities to be attended  by the committee members;

4.Formulate the annual work plan of CRAES-ISAC and annual budget for approval by CRAES.

Clause 13. The CRAES-ISAC Secretariat shall appoint one Director and two Deputy Directors. Secretariat staffs are drawn from relevant departments within CRAES to serve in the Secretariat as per the needs of the work.

Clause 14. The director of Science and Technology Department in CRAES is nominated as the Secretariat Director with the main responsibilities include:

1.Organizing and supervising the daily work of the Secretariat;

2.Reporting to the Plenary Meeting of CRAES-ISAC on the phased work, annual budget and follow-up work plan thereof;

3.Directing the Secretariat in the implementation of relevant activities in accordance with the approved annual activity plan and annual budget.

Clause 15. The director of International Cooperation Centre and the director of Chief Engineer Office in CRAES are nominated as the two Secretariat Deputy Directors, with the main responsibilities include:

1.Providing assistance to Secretariat Director in daily work;

2.The director of the International Cooperation Centre liaises with international members and the director of Chief Engineer Office liaises with domestic members;

3.Providing assistance to Secretariat Director in the implementation of relevant activities in accordance with the approved annual activity plan.

Clause 16. The Charter takes effect upon its approval by the committee members at the 1st Plenary Meeting of the 1st CRAES-ISAC.

Clause 17. Any revision to the Charter shall take into effect only upon its approval by the Plenary Meeting of CRAES-ISAC.