The InterAcademy Panel (IAP) of the Global Network of Science Academies, co-chaired by two of us (V.t.M. and M.H.), draws on the best international science and is free of vested political and commercial interests. It is in a strong position to identify and inform emerging policy issues.

Many science academies already advise governments on national policy-making and some contribute at a regional level, including the European Academies Science Advisory Council. Bringing together regional networks within the IAP encourages sharing of good practice and generates resources for tackling global issues such as sustainable development.

The IAP is working with the scientific community through its science-education programme and helped to create the Global Young Academy to support the development of early-career scientists. It recently issued a statement on population as part of its aim to address the world's strategic priorities (see go.nature.com/whxzi4).

The immediate challenges for the IAP are to build critical mass, to develop sustained links with policy-makers rather than waiting for a policy crisis, and to ensure accountability with the wider scientific community.