Obstacles to scientific input in global policy

Science, vol. 380, pp. 1021–1022

Abstract

The United Nations identifies the drivers of the planetary crisis as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Mitigation requires reliable science to inform decision-making. However, relevant research is often underutilized in policy planning and implementation because policy-making entities limit the ability of scientists to contribute to the process. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) welcomes the participation of independent scientists whose work is free of conflict of interest, but acquiring eligibility is difficult for many scientists. Scientists affiliated with government-funded institutions can seek other modes of entry to UNEP meetings, such as joining national delegations or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). However, participating in this manner undermines scientists’ ability to operate independently, given that their true affiliations might be obscured. In addition, because some NGOs might be branded as activists, the credibility of scientists’ policy recommendations may be questioned.A preferable option for scientists affiliated with government-funded institutions is to register through accreditation not directly with UNEP, but under multilateral environmental agreements, such as the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions. This option is available to everyone but is underused. Because the requirements are less stringent, scientists are more likely to gain eligibility. Institutions can also register through this process.

Authors 15

1. Bethanie Carney Almroth corresponding

   University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

2. Amila Abeynayaka

   Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Hayama, Japan

3. Miriam L. Diamond

   University of Toronto

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Earth Sciences and School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

4. Trisia Angela Farrelly

   Massey University

   Affiliation as printed

   Political Ecology, Research Centre, Massey University, Aotearoa New, Zealand

5. Marina Olga Fernandez

   Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas · Experimental Medicine and Biology Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IBYMECONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

6. Sedat Gündoğdu

   Cukurova University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Fisheries, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey

7. Ibrahim Issifu

   University of British Columbia

   Affiliation as printed

   Fisheries Economics Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8. Idun Rognerud

   Norwegian Institute for Water Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway

9. Andreas Schäffer Aachen Institute for Environmental Research

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Environmental Research, North Rhine-Westphalia Technical University of Aachen (RWTH) Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

10. Martin Scheringer

    ETH Zurich

    Affiliation as printed

    Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

11. Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez

    Stockholm Resilience Centre · Stockholm University

    Affiliation as printed

    Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

12. Rufino Varea

    University of the South Pacific

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

13. Penny Vlahos

    University of Connecticut

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Avery Point, CT, USA

14. Martin Wagner

    Norwegian University of Science and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

15. Marlene Ågerstrand

    Stockholm University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden