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Ecological economics and scientific controversies. Lessons from some recent policy making in the EEC

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  • Jean-Charles Hourcade

    (CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Jean-Michel A Salles

    (CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Daniel Théry

    (CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Contrasting the very limited scientific evidence on the forest dieback issue with the sudden adoption of policies on air pollution decided in the FRG (1983-84) and extended to the European Community (1985). we propose an interpretative framework for the real internalizationl process at work in what was tantamount to a social crisis for public opinion, the media and political actors. We conclude that open scientific controversies on some environmental issues (effects, causes, solutions) pave the way for some actors to use the issue for their own techno-industrial strategies quite alien to ecological constraints. In cases of very high uncertainties on impacts, it becomes impossible to apply conventional social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) as an optimizing tool. We propose to develop economic analysis as a negotiation language and to give pride of place to the value of learning time and to the crucial role of technological pluralism as a condition for flexibility in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Charles Hourcade & Jean-Michel A Salles & Daniel Théry, 1992. "Ecological economics and scientific controversies. Lessons from some recent policy making in the EEC," Post-Print hal-02961810, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02961810
    DOI: 10.1016/0921-8009(92)90026-O
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lecocq, Franck & Hourcade, Jean-Charles & Ha Duong, Minh, 1998. "Decision making under uncertainty and inertia constraints: sectoral implications of the when flexibility," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(5-6), pages 539-555, December.
    2. Valérie Boisvert & Franck-Dominique Vivien., 2005. "Tiers Monde et biodiversité : tristes tropiques ou tropiques d'abondance ? La régulation internationale des ressources génétiques mise en perspective," Revue Tiers Monde, Programme National Persée, vol. 46(181), pages 185-206.
    3. Boisvert, Valerie & Vivien, Franck-Dominique, 2005. "The convention on biological diversity: A conventionalist approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 461-472, June.
    4. Ha-Duong, Minh, 1998. "Quasi-option value and climate policy choices," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(5-6), pages 599-620, December.
    5. Susse Georg, 1994. "Regulating the environment: Changing from constraint to gentle coercion," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 3(2), pages 11-20.
    6. Douguet, Jean-Marc & O'Connor, Martin, 2003. "Maintaining the integrity of the French terroir: a study of critical natural capital in its cultural context," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2-3), pages 233-254, March.
    7. Valérie Boisvert & Franck-Dominique Vivien, 2005. "Tiers Monde et biodiversité : tristes tropiques ou tropiques d'abondance ? La régulation internationale des ressources génétiques mise en perspective," Post-Print hal-04188412, HAL.
    8. Courtois, Pierre & Tazdaït, Tarik, 2007. "Games of influence in climate change negotiations: Modelling interactions," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 204(3), pages 301-314.
    9. Olivier Godard, 2005. "The precautionary principle. Between social norms and economic constructs," Working Papers hal-00243008, HAL.
    10. Herb Thompson, 1993. "Papua New Guinean rainforests: Problems, solutions and questions," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 1(1), pages 64-71.
    11. de Graaf, H. J. & Musters, C. J. M. & ter Keurs, W. J., 1996. "Sustainable development: looking for new strategies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 205-216, March.
    12. Remig, Moritz C., 2015. "Unraveling the veil of fuzziness: A thick description of sustainability economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 194-202.
    13. Aggeri, Franck, 1999. "Environmental policies and innovation: A knowledge-based perspective on cooperative approaches," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(7), pages 699-717, September.

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