International collaboration in global environment research

This paper investigates the factors that support building capacity in global environmental change research. We compare two major international collaboration programs in Earth and environmental sciences, the International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP) and the International Hydrological Program (IHP). High mutual dependence, a positive international scientific reputation, and bottom-up funding structure explain the IGBP's capability to effectively organize international collaboration; low mutual dependence, intergovernmental decision structures, and organizational barriers to growth hinder effective capacity building by the IHP. We conclude that future collaboration programs focusing on cumulative global change research should consider the relative strengths of both collaboration models.