Place of science in environmental problem solving
Most important environmental problems are complex. Moreover, solutions to them must be sought in governmental arenas, where science, if it is used at all, typically serves political ends rather than being pursued on its own merits. Policy action often cannot wait for adequate scientific information. Indeed, sufficient information to permit rigorous predictions of the consequences of most policy and management decisions will never be available. For these and other reasons, scientists are often reluctant to enter the policy arena. However, it is abundantly clear that there is considerable scope for expanding the role of science and scientists in environmental problem solving. Substantial improvements in dealing with environmental problems can be obtained by combining better use of existing information with well-focused efforts to treat projects as experiments - to learn about the effects of human-caused perturbations on the functioning of ecological systems. A number of recent publications have treated the kinds of approaches to environmental problem solving that should help to make information available to decision makers and encourage its use.
- OSTI ID:
- 5491939
- Journal Information:
- Environment; (United States), Journal Name: Environment; (United States) Vol. 28:9; ISSN ENVTA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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