A Pragmatist Orientation for the Social Sciences in Climate Policy

A Pragmatist Orientation for the Social Sciences in Climate Policy

Author: Martin Kowarsch

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-09-01

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 3319432818

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While economic and other social science expertise is indispensable for successful public policy-making regarding global climate change, social scientists face trade-offs between the scientific credibility, policy-relevance, and legitimacy of their policy advice. From a philosophical perspective, this book systematically addresses these trade-offs and other crucial challenges facing the integrated economic assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Based on John Dewey’s pragmatist philosophy and an analysis of the value-laden nature and reliability of climate change economics, the book develops a refined science-policy model and specific guidelines for these assessments of climate policy options. The core idea is to scientifically explore the various practical implications of alternative climate policy pathways in an interdisciplinary manner, together with diverse stakeholders. This could facilitate an iterative, deliberative public learning process concerning disputed policy issues. This volume makes novel contributions to three strands of the literature: (1) the philosophy of (social) science in policy; (2) the philosophy of economics; and (3) debates about the design of scientific assessments, including the continuous IPCC reform debate. This work is thus interesting for philosophers and other scholars reflecting on the science-policy interface, but also for assessment practitioners, climate policy-makers, and economists. The science-policy approach developed in this volume has already influenced the recent socio-economic IPCC assessment.


Keeping the World’s Environment under Review

Keeping the World’s Environment under Review

Author: Jan Bakkes

Publisher: Central European University Press

Published: 2022-06-20

Total Pages: 534

ISBN-13: 9633864321

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How do we take stock of the state and direction of the world’s environment, and what can we learn from the experience? Among the myriad detailed narratives about the condition of the planet, the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) reports—issued by the United Nations Environment Programme—stand out as the most ambitious. For nearly three decades the GEO project has not only delivered iconic global assessment reports, but through its multitude of contributors has inspired hundreds of similar processes worldwide from the regional to the local level. This book provides an inside account of the evolution of the GEO project from its earliest days. Building on meticulous research, including interviews with former heads of the United Nations Environment Programme, diplomats, leading contributing scientists, and senior leaders of collaborating organizations, the story is told from the perspective of five GEO veterans who all played a pivotal role in shaping the periodic assessments. The GEO’s history provides striking insights and will save valuable time to those who commission, design and conduct, as well as critique and improve, assessments of environmental development in the next decade.


SWOT Analysis and Evaluation of the GEO-3 Process from the Perspective of GEO Collaborating Centres

SWOT Analysis and Evaluation of the GEO-3 Process from the Perspective of GEO Collaborating Centres

Author:

Publisher: UNEP/Earthprint

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 84

ISBN-13: 9280723871

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The purpose of this project was to examine the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) process from the point of view of the Collaborating Centres (CCs). It used SWOT analysis to elicit comments on: the performance of GEO as an assessment and reporting process; the performance of the CCs; UNEPs performance as the leader of GEO; the assessment and reporting methods used in the preparation of GEO-3; the CC network.


Routledge Handbook of Sustainability Indicators

Routledge Handbook of Sustainability Indicators

Author: Simon Bell

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2018-06-14

Total Pages: 568

ISBN-13: 1317200322

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This handbook provides researchers and students with an overview of the field of sustainability indicators (SIs) as applied in the interdisciplinary field of sustainable development. The editors have sought to include views from the center ground of SI development but also divergent ideas which represent some of the diverse, challenging and even edgy observations which are prominent in the wider field of SI thinking. The contributions in this handbook: • clearly set out the theoretical background and history of SIs, their origins, roots and initial goals • expand on the disciplines and modalities employed to develop SIs of various kinds • assess the various ways in which SI data are gathered and the availability (over space and time) and quality issues that surround them • explore the multiplex world of SIs as expressed in agencies around the world, via examples of SI practice and the lessons that have emerged from them • critically review the progress that SIs have made over the last 30 years • express the divergence of views which are held about the value of SIs, including differing theories on their efficacy, efficiency and ethics • explore the frontier of contemporary SI thinking, reviewing ante/post and systemic alternatives This multidisciplinary and international handbook will be of great interest to researchers, students and practitioners working in sustainability research and practice.


Sustainability Assessment

Sustainability Assessment

Author: Alan James Bond

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13: 0415598486

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Currently the writing on the subject is limited and comprises, for the most part, guidance documents and completed assessments.


Towards an Environmental Assessment Network

Towards an Environmental Assessment Network

Author: Tom Shillington

Publisher: Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Published: 1995

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13:

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This report, based on a draft paper prepared by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and reviewed by Summit participants, presents the results of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency-sponsored study. The paper offers a framework on how such a network could be organised and operated, and explains how the CEAA has used the framework to develop its site on the Internet. The report is also a contribution to the International Study of the Effectiveness of Environmental Assessment. The document proposes a framework for an EA network and looks at the experience of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.


The First Global Integrated Marine Assessment

The First Global Integrated Marine Assessment

Author: United Nations

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2017-04-17

Total Pages: 978

ISBN-13: 1108298842

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The World Ocean Assessment - or, to give its full title, The First Global Integrated Marine Assessment - is the outcome of the first cycle of the United Nations' Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. The Assessment provides vital, scientifically-grounded bases for the consideration of ocean issues, including climate change, by governments, intergovernmental agencies, non-governmental agencies and all other stakeholders and policymakers involved in ocean affairs. Together with future assessments and related initiatives, it will support the implementation of the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly its ocean-related goals. Moreover, it will also form an important reference text for marine science courses.


Global Environment Outlook

Global Environment Outlook

Author:

Publisher: UNEP/Earthprint

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 9280724576

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GEO is both a series of periodic reports and an international participatory assessment process. GEO projects two major objectives are to provide an overview of major environmental concerns and to set in motion a global participatory assessment process. This document reports on a study commissioned in response to the Governing council's request for a Global Environment Outlook user profile and qualitative analysis of the actual use of the first and second Global Environment Outlook reports.