National governments and research scientists may be equally concerned with issues of global environmental change, but their interests-and their timelines-are not the same. Governments are often focused on short-term effects and local impacts of global phenomena. Scientists, on the other hand, are loath to engage in speculation about the specific consequences of large-scale environmental trends.
How then can we translate scientific understanding of these trends into public policy?
Communicating Global Change Science to Society examines the growing number of instances in which governments and scientists have engaged in research projects in which the goal is to inform policy decisions. It assesses these experiences and suggests their implications for future collaborations.
The book begins with a discussion of interactions between science and policy, particularly as they relate to the broad significance of environmental change. It then addresses concerns that emerge from this discussion, including how scientific research results are communicated in democratic societies, the uses (and misuses) of scientific findings, and what the natural and social sciences could learn from each other.
How to improve the dialogue between science and society The case of Global Environmental Change Edited by Holm Tiessen, Mike Brklacich, Gerhard Breulmann, and Rômulo S. C. Menezes List of Figures, Tables and Boxes Foreword ¿ Margaret S. Leinen and Paul E. Filmer Acknowledgment Chapter 1 - Why this book? An Introduction and Synthesis Holm Tiessen Cross-cutting issues: Chapter 2 - Steering Research Towards Policy Relevance Mark D. Stauffer, Walter E. Baethgen, Ricardo L. Berbara, Ernesto Caetano, Alejandro Castellanos, Barbara Gn++bel, Michael E. McClain , Rômulo S. C. Menezes, and Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa Chapter 3 - Stakeholders and Global Environmental Change science Mike Brklacich, I. Foster Brown, Edmo J. D. Campos, Alex Krusche, Allan Lavell, Kam-biu Liu, Juan J. Jiménez-Osornio, Susanne Reyes-Knoche, and Charles Wood. Chapter 4 - Delivering Global Environmental Change Science to the Policy Process John Ingram, John Stone, Ulisses Confalonieri, Theresa Garvin, Peter R. Jutro, Carlos A. Klink, Brian H. Luckman, Elke Noellemeyer, and Peter M. de Toledo Chapter 5 - Communicating Science to the Media, Decision Makers and the Public Theo Beckers, Maureen Woodrow, Paul E. Filmer, Sônia M. F. Gianesella, Laura Gallardo Klenner, Carlos A. Klink, Jean-Francois Tourrand, and Peter Weingart Background chapters: Chapter 6 - Communicating science in democratic media societies Peter Weingart Chapter 7 - Institutions as initiators and users of science Peter R. Jutro Chapter 8 - Vulnerabilities of societies under global environmental change (GEC) Mike Brklacich, May Chazan, and Andrew Dawe Chapter 9 - What social and natural sciences could learn from each other: The challenge of interdisciplinarity Barbara Gn++bel Chapter 10 - Legal frameworks and biodiversity: the impact of ownership and control of biodiversity on science Susanne Reyes-Knoche Examples of the science-policy interface: Chapter 11 - Integrating environmental and social agendas; the experience of the Amazonian networks LBA and GEOMA. Peter M. de Toledo; Ima C. G. Vieira, Gilberto Câmara, and Carlos. A. Nobre Chapter 12 - Assessment of Present, Past and Future Climate Variability in the Americas from Treeline Environments Brian H. Luckman Chapter 13 - Climate Variability and its Impacts in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Victor Maga±a Rueda and Ernesto Caetano Chapter 14 - Stakeholder and Decision Makers in a Study of Global Changes in the South Atlantic Edmo J. D. Camposa and Alberto R. Piola Chapter 15 - Climate Variability and Climate Changes in the Southern Cone Mario N. Nu±ez Chapter 16 - Land use change in semi-arid Americas: biogeochemistry, societal impact and policies Rômulo S. C. Menezes, Elke Noellemeyer, Ignßcio H. Salcedo, Juan J. Jiménez-Osornio, and Holm Tiessen Chapter 17 - Cattle Ranching, Land Use and Deforestation in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru Charles H. Wood and Jean Francois Tourrand Chapter 18 ¿ Global change effects on the vegetation of tropical high mountains and savannas Carlos A. Klink, Juan F. Silva, Aura Azócar, Juan Gonzßlez, and Ricardo Herrera-Peraza Chapter 19 - Linking Global Change Research to Improved Policies and Management for Amazonian Rivers Michael E. McClain, Remigio Galßrraga-Sßnchez, Carlos A. Llerena, and José Efrain Ruiz Chapter 20 - Mediated modeling for integrating science and stakeholders: Impacts of Enhanced Ultraviolet B Radiation on Ecosystem Services Marjan van den Belt, Robert Costanza, Serge Demers, Susana Diaz, Gustavo A. Ferreyra, Sônia M.F. Gianesella, Evamaria W. Koch, Fernando R. Momo, and Maria Vernet Chapter 21 - ENSO and risk management: natural and social science, policy implications and stake holder participation Allan Lavell Chapter 22 - Diagnostics and Prediction of Climate Variation and Human Health Impacts Ulisses Confalonieri List of Contributors SCOPE Series List SCOPE Executive-Committee 2005-2008
"Communicating Global Change Science to Society: An Assessment and Case Studies presents a thoughtful consideration of how we can use science in the service of society—a grand challenge for the 21st century if we are going to successfully mange the planet for the benefit of present and future generations. By exploring ways of creating knowledge partnerships between decision makers (government and business leaders, resource managers) and scientists, society can find sustainable ways of creating dynamic economies, while protecting and improving the environment in the face of rapid global environmental changes."
