A group decision making tool for assessing climate policy risks against multiple criteria.

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Decision science
• Policy analysis

Background:

• Climate policy development is complex, requiring data integration across diverse scientific fields.
• Integrated assessment models (IAMs) are complex and often exclude valuable stakeholder knowledge.
• Bridging the gap between scientific data and stakeholder expertise is crucial for effective climate policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess how multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) can enhance climate policy making.
• To develop a methodological framework for solving complex policy problems with multiple stakeholders.
• To present a practical tool for integrating diverse knowledge in climate policy assessment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on MCDA applications in complex decision domains.
• Development of a methodological framework for multi-criteria, multi-expert decision problems.
• Creation of a spreadsheet-based tool: Multiple Alternatives-Criteria-Experts Decision Support System (MACE-DSS).

Main Results:

• MCDA offers a viable approach to integrate diverse data and stakeholder knowledge in climate policy.
• The MACE-DSS provides a structured method for evaluating policy alternatives against multiple criteria.
• Case study demonstrates the tool's utility in assessing policy risks and evaluating instruments.

Conclusions:

• MCDA frameworks, like the presented MACE-DSS, can significantly improve climate policy decision-making processes.
• The developed tool facilitates the inclusion of stakeholder expertise, addressing a key limitation of traditional IAMs.
• This approach enhances the robustness and inclusivity of climate policy formulation.