Global Environmental Change DirectorsThe Chairs of Scientific Committees and Directors of the four international Global Environmental Change (GEC) research programmes, DIVERSITAS, the International Geoshoere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) and WCRP, met in London, UK, on 14-15 January 2013, to discuss transition of the Earth System Science Partnership into Future Earth: Research for Global Sustainability. The International Council for Science (ICSU) and its alliance of partners are supporting and guiding this transition, with active engagement of the GECs.