Illuminated or blinded by science? A discussion paper on the role of science in environmental policy and decision-making

Report summaryIllumniated or bline by science image.

The purpose of this discussion paper is to explore ways in which environmental policy and decision-making can be effectively supported by science and research to achieve effective environmental management and good outcomes. It lays out the many elements of science, policy and decision-making processes and poses some questions.

 

Commissioner's preface

New Zealand has a long tradition of using science-derived knowledge to help meet our society's needs and wants and manage our physical resources. Throughout most of the 20th century we developed scientific institutions, many of which were an integral part of government agencies with policy formulation roles in environmental management and other important areas.

Since the mid-1980s, state sector, local government and science organisational reforms have changed the relationships, capacities, and accountabilities within and between these sectors. This has led to concerns about the contribution that science (the knowledge) and scientific thinking (the approach) is making to environmental policy and decision-making. Is the contribution as extensive and appropriate as desired? Is New Zealand getting the best value from its investment in science and research? Do we have the capacity to manage the crucial science-society interface? These are only some of the issues that have prompted the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to publish a discussion paper on the role of science in environmental policy and decision-making.

The purpose of the paper is to explore ways in which environmental policy and decision-making can be effectively supported by science and research to achieve effective environmental management and good outcomes. It lays out the many elements of science, policy and decision-making processes and poses some questions. These are not meant, in any way, to confine discussion either on issues of concern or potential ways forward. They are simply a starting point.

Submissions on the issues raised in the discussion paper are invited up to Monday 15 September 2003. 

Executive summary

This discussion paper outlines a number of features of science, environmental policy and decision-making, and the interface between them.

Environmental policy-making, in particular, is fundamentally a political process in which elected representatives in public authorities must consider a wide range of views and values, including technical and non-technical, economic, social, cultural, ethical, local, national and international issues, to highlight just a few. So the role of science (and the various branches of science) in this area must be recognised as one of many components that potentially influence the choices that are made.

By convention, scientific research has to meet high standards of integrity, and the results are subject to close scrutiny. However, the very nature of scientific inquiry associated with environmental matters means that there will be some element of uncertainty that places a qualifier on any scientific conclusions or advice offered. Sometimes this uncertainty may not be made clear in the advice to policy and decision makers, or if the uncertainties are explicit some may regard them as a weakness and a reason to distrust or dispute scientific findings or predictions.

Environmental policy and decision makers need to be aware of the strengths and limitations of science and other views that need to be considered. Differences between scientific and non-scientific views highlight some of the difficulties faced by environmental policy and decision makers when dealing with divergent approaches and views. Some of these will involve a mix of facts and values about the same issue, and little or no common ground on which to debate the merits of the arguments or negotiate an acceptable solution.

The questions posed in this discussion paper are an attempt to open up the debate and encourage the exploration of ideas on how science can contribute to the development of policies and decisions that ultimately lead to improved environmental management and environmental sustainability.

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