Failures to disagree are essential for environmental science to effectively influence policy development
Jon Norberg1, Thorsten Blenckner2, Sarah E Cornell2
1Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Sweden.
Ecology Letters
|February 26, 2022
Summary
Environmental science often faces polarized debates due to its complex nature. This paper identifies key features in the scientific process that contribute to these locked-in debates, hindering sustainable decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science and ecology
- Complex social-ecological systems
Background:
- Scientific understanding is crucial for sustainable decisions.
- Polarized, locked-in debates in environmental science can compromise common goals.
- Inspired by a resolved debate in psychology and prior discussions on ecological thresholds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the scientific process within social-ecological systems.
- To identify features of environmental science that predispose it to locked-in debates.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the scientific process in complex social-ecological systems.
- Identification of features contributing to polarized debates.
Main Results:
- Four features predispose environmental science to locked-in debates: context-dependent systems, single hypothesis testing, theory demonstration over investigation, and policy demands.
- Human psychology and funding/publication systems exacerbate these issues.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the drivers of polarized debates is essential for improving scientific processes in environmental science.
- Addressing these features can foster more constructive dialogue and support sustainable decision-making.
Keywords:
biodiversity-ecosystem functioningcontext-dependentcritical transitionslocked-inpolicy makingscience funding agencyscientific methodthresholdstipping pointsMore Related Videos
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