33 national science academies and research councils, and 22 international scientific unions, committees and societies, guide and develop SCOPE's scientific programme. The organisations adhering to SCOPE in member countries are the scientific academies, research councils, scientific institutions or associations of such institutions representing the range of scientific activities in that country and electing to participate in the activities of SCOPE.

The Members of SCOPE constitute the General Assembly, convened every three years. The General Assembly is the highest authority of SCOPE and determines its general policy. In particular, it has the task to review the scientific and administrative activities of SCOPE, to approve the outlines of the future scientific programme, including any new projects, and to elect the Executive Committee.

Member organisations are expected to develop activities in support of the objectives of SCOPE, at the national and/or international level (About SCOPE). For this purpose, they often elect to establish a specific committee for SCOPE within their own framework, or to place their SCOPE activities under the aegis of an existing sub-committee dealing with environmental affairs.

The activities of Member organisations and their committees for SCOPE vary widely from one country to another, reflecting the dynamism and cohesion of the community of environmental scientists in each specific country. SCOPE encourages a high level of involvement by member countries in its international scientific programme in order to maintain the truly worldwide character of its activities and to foster international cooperation between environmental scientists of different regions of the world.

06 December 2010