Representing and regulating nature

Boundary Organisations, Portable Representations, and the Science-Policy Interface

Bibliographic Data

ID5138792
AuthorsR Lidskog (0000-0001-6735-0011, Örebro University, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume23
Issue4
Pages670-687
Publication date2014-07-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0964-4016 • E-ISSN: 1743-8934
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09644016.2013.898820
OpenAlexW2007697882
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited35

The interaction between science and policy in transboundary environmental regulation is dynamic. By elaborating on the concepts of boundary organizations and portable representations, I shed light on how science-based policy and policy-relevant science are co-produced. This perspective is then put to use in an analysis of the scientific representation and political regulation of two different environmental issues: ground-level ozone and biodiversity. Portable representations function as a link between experts and policymakers. By means of portable representations, nature is not only measured and represented but also made governable. Portable representations seemed to strengthen the credibility of both scientific assessments and policy. Science makes itself matter by formally separating itself from policy considerations, although the two are at the same time integrated through portable representations from boundary organizations

Boundary-work · Credibility · Environmental policy · Environmental resource management · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Science policy · Social science · Sociology · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Computer Science · Environmental Science · Law · Mathematics · Policy Transfer and Learning · Public Administration · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Artificial Intelligence