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From Science to Policy: Assessing the Assessment Process

Author

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  • Cash, David

    (Harvard U)

  • Clark, William

    (Harvard U)

Abstract

Global environmental change is increasingly understood to have causes, consequences, and responses which span multiple levels, from the local to the global. The multi-level nature of such problems has required a radical shift in the relationship between knowledge and action. This working paper illustrates that in an era of global change which is inexorably linked with local ecosystems and communities, successful efforts of regional assessments which address large-scale environmental change can be characterized as distributed research, assessment, and decision support systems. Such systems share a number of characteristics. They: 1) integrate research, assessment, and decision-making across multiple levels; 2) are structured to assess and address global change in the context of local consequences; 3) identify, assess, and respond to the interactions between society and environment which cross levels; and 4) structure the relationship between decision-makers and researchers as a two-way, dynamic, and iterated process (not a "pipeline" from science to decision-maker).

Suggested Citation

  • Cash, David & Clark, William, 2001. "From Science to Policy: Assessing the Assessment Process," Working Paper Series rwp01-045, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:harjfk:rwp01-045
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David H Guston, 1996. "Principal-agent theory and the structure of science policy," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(4), pages 229-240, August.
    2. Michael Gibbons, 1999. "Science's new social contract with society," Nature, Nature, vol. 402(6761), pages 81-84, December.
    3. W.E. Franz, 1997. "The Development of an International Agenda for Climate Change: Connecting Science to Policy," Working Papers ir97034, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bruno S. Frey, 2007. "Evaluierungen, Evaluierungen … Evaluitis," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 8(3), pages 207-220, August.
    2. Santarius, Tilman & Dalkmann, Holger & Steigenberger, Markus & Vogelpohl, Karin, 2003. "Grüne Grenzen für den Welthandel: Eine ökologische Reform der WTO als Herausforderung an eine Sustainable Global Governance," Wuppertal Papers 133, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.
    3. Mendoza, Guillermo A. & Prabhu, Ravi, 2006. "Participatory modeling and analysis for sustainable forest management: Overview of soft system dynamics models and applications," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 179-196, November.
    4. Qu, Mei & Ahponen, Pirkkoliisa & Tahvanainen, Liisa & Pelkonen, Paavo, 2010. "Chinese academic experts' assessment for forest bio-energy development in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 6767-6775, November.
    5. Bruno S. Frey, 2006. "Evaluitis � Eine Neue Krankheit," IEW - Working Papers 293, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics - University of Zurich.
    6. Bruno S. Frey, 2006. "Evaluitis ? Eine neue Krankheit," CREMA Working Paper Series 2006-18, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    7. Joyce, Linda A., 2003. "Improving the flow of scientific information across the interface of forest science and policy," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(4), pages 339-347, December.

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