Science
Science is knowledge or a system of knowledge about the physical world and its phenomena. Many environmental threats would be unknown without scientific research or discovered too late for the development of appropriate policies.
Environmental policy rests on a foundation of scientific research. However, the process of scientific research is not always geared to the needs of policymaking. Science seeks to prove or disprove hypotheses as a strategy for reaching enduring answers. Policy is limited in time and location: decisions must be made at a given time for a specific jurisdiction. Policymakers seek the best possible answers to issues because there is a constituency that requires an answer. Effective environmental policy requires facts derived from science as well as principles and goals derived from policy analysis. However, simply providing more scientific information does not create better policy. Scientists and policymakers often speak two different languages. An effective science-policy interface is often needed to negotiate and mediate between science and policy so that the evidence scientists provide is understandable to policymakers and other stakeholders.
Events and Articles
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18th Session of the IPCC (IPCC-18)
Delegates adopted the Synthesis Report of the IPCC’s Third Assessment Report, drawing on all previously approved and accepted IPCC reports to address nine policy-relevant questions identified by the IPCC, based on submissions by governments. It was the first such report prepared by the IPCC.
17th Session of the IPCC (IPCC-17)
Delegates accepted the actions of the three IPCC Working Groups with regard to adopting the three sections of the Third Assessment Report (TAR) while also considering progress on the TAR Synthesis Report and discussing the future of the IPCC.