Tackling the Dilemma of the Science-Policy Interface in Environmental Policy Analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID21077858
AuthorsAlan J Cimorelli, Cynthia H Stahl (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Year2005
Volume25
Issue1
Pages46-52
Publication date2005-02-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBulletin of Science Technology & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0270-4676 • E-ISSN: 1552-4183
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0270467604271221
OpenAlexW1992376706
LanguageEN
References cited19

Scientifically derived environmental indicators are central to environmental decision analysis. This article examines the interface between science (environmental indicators) and policy, and the dilemma of their integration. In the past, science has been shown to dominate many policy debates, usually with unfavorable results. The issue, therefore, is not whether science can determine policy but how science can be part of a more holistic analysis that incorporates other critical perspectives. This article discusses the importance of considering alternative views (as represented by different scientific indicators) within the policy debate. Six example ozone indicators, constructed from the same raw data, are used to illustrate this point. Two represent newly developed indicators that respond to present-day policy questions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The article concludes with a brief discussion of how such indicators can be used to better define a policy question, inform the policy debate, and evaluate policy alternatives

Dilemma · Economics · Environmental policy · Environmental resource management · Epistemology · Management science · Policy analysis · Political science · Science policy · Social science · Sociology · Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics · Climate Change Policy and Economics · Computer Science · Economic and Environmental Valuation · Public Administration

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub