In a Policy Forum, Dawson White and colleagues argue that international drug policy must distinguish between the coca leaf – a sacred plant long cultivated in South America – and its purified chemical derivative, cocaine. The World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) is now reassessing the plant’s status, which, according to the authors, presents a rare opportunity to realign global drug policy with scientific evidence and Indigenous rights. Currently, the coca bush is classified under international law as a Schedule I drug, a group that also includes cocaine and heroin. While these drugs have a well-documented history of addiction and harm, the coca leaf has served for millennia as a mild, nonaddictive stimulant and an important element of Andean and Amazonian cultural life. Moreover, research in both biological and social sciences confirms the coca leaf’s safety and cultural significance, underscoring its profound difference from cocaine. Under the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, all species of the coca genus were indiscriminately banned, effectively criminalizing the traditions and livelihoods of more than 11 million Indigenous and mestizo people. This legal framework not only stigmatized cultural practices but also stifled scientific study of the coca plant. Given the ECDD’s forthcoming recommendation, White et al. call for a reevaluation of the plant that recognizes traditional use, alongside scientific evidence, which could lead to more just and robust policies that respect both cultural heritage and scientific understanding. “Descheduling coca would correct a long-standing scientific and legal misclassification, uphold the rights of Indigenous and other coca-growing communities, and enable evidence-based regulation informed by traditional knowledge,” write the authors.

Funding decisions following the second call for proposals for new collaborative research projects / Topics range from automated driving to cultures of remembrance / A total of around €31 million for five years

The chemist Johannes Lelieveld uses innovative measurement methods and computer models to examine how chemical and meteorological processes impact Earth’s atmosphere. His research offers vital insights into the atmosphere’s self-cleaning capacity as well as into the influence of different kinds of emissions on climate and human health. The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Stifterverband are honouring his achievements with the 2024 Carl-Friedrich-von-Weizsäcker-Prize. The prize, endowed with 30,000 euros, is awarded for scientific achievements that deal with important challenges facing society. It is thus the German award for scientists working in the area of science-based policy advice.

Over 1,500 historical IUCN publications are now available online, following a three-year grant from Arcadia. The project has enabled the creation of IUCN’s Open Access Policy and upgrades to the IUCN Library, cementing the Union’s commitment to open access conservation knowledge.