The Alliance for Collaboration on Climate and Earth Systems Science, or ACCESS programme, is an instrument of the Global Change Programme of the South African Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation. It is hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.  The main purpose of the programme is to provide a platform for multi-institutional and trans-disciplinary research on the drivers, mechanisms of manifestation, impacts and applications and responses to the dynamics of earth systems,  as they affect the natural world, ecosystem services and human society.  ACCESS is also a training programme for emerging researchers and students who are interested in the future of our planet and society.