The launch conference for World Social Science Report 2013 was held at the CASS Institute for Urban and Environmental Studies on June 5. Dr. Heide Hackmann, executive director of the International Social Science Council, introduced the main content of the report, saying that global environmental change is a social process that affects everyone. Hackmann identified the three dimensions of sustainable development as the economy, environment and society. Risks and challenges triggered by global environmental change threaten all societies. Hackmann said social sciences fulfill a key role in understanding and dealing with climate change.

Translated by Du Mei

Revised by Tom Fearon