Scientists' Warning to Humanity: Unnecessary Bureaucracy Is a Global Impediment to Productivity, Advancement of Human and Planetary Wellbeing, Science and Sustainability

Bureaucracies are essential to the proper functioning of almost all human activities. However, they are diverse in their quality and success-promoting potential. While many bureaucratic measures make sense and are necessary for the wellbeing and success of their organisations, some are unnecessary or ill-conceived/implemented, and yet others may harm system functioning and achievement. Unnecessary bureaucratic measures limit productivity, waste vital resources and drain workforces of engagement, enthusiasm, motivation, commitment and cohesion. (The term "unnecessary bureaucratic measures" used in this discourse is used in the sense of poor value and lacking a compelling basis-cost: benefit; see also GOV.UK 2020-but also includes poorly-conceived or -implemented measures, measures delegated to frontline and other workers that could/should be handled by the administrations, online tools promoted as reducing workloads but that in fact increase work and frustration because they are poorly designed and/or not subjected to adequate quality control.) They create frustration, anger and increased stress among those affected. Stress is considered by the World Health Organisation to be one of the foremost health crises of the 21st century. While the impact of unnecessary bureaucratic measures within an enterprise may go unnoticed by those not directly affected, the aggregate negative global impact on productivity, economic success and the wellbeing of workforces is concerning. Humankind is currently faced with a range of challenges, some existential, that urgently require solutions. Scientific research and discovery are generally considered to be major drivers of progress of humankind and a source of solutions to major problems and crises faced by society. Science innovation depends upon the creativity, originality and productivity of scientists. In the fields of biomedical sciences, the plant-agriculture-nutrition sciences, and the environmental sciences, progress in the past can be approximately quantified in terms of reduction in preventable human suffering, disease and premature death (as illustrated by the recent development of mRNA vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which saved millions of lives), as well as the resulting socio-economic benefits. Unnecessary bureaucratic measures needlessly slow down research progress by diverting the time and effort of scientists from their essential tasks-creative thinking and research-to mundane tasks, and are responsible for delays in humanitarian improvements that translate into avoidable suffering and premature loss of life. Unnecessary bureaucracy is a global crisis of diversion from primary essential tasks, lowered human achievement and ensuing frustration, that is intertwined with and reinforces other problems, such as societal fragmentation. It requires a global response. A new, fit-for-purpose framework is needed that supports the functioning of bureaucracies and the necessary measures they impose, while constraining the imposition of unnecessary measures. Here, we consider some of the causes of unnecessary bureaucracy and measures needed to directly address these causes. These considerations lead us to propose an actionable solution strategy involving a Bureaucracy Charter and an implementation mechanism that will ensure best practice and adherence to the Charter. The rationale of this strategy incorporates key issues of benchmarking-best practice, transparency-accountability, oversight, stakeholder engagement-involvement, duty of care, Health in All Policies, and awareness and avoidance of cost externalisations.