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Science

Science is knowledge or a system of knowledge about the physical world and its phenomena. Many environmental threats would be unknown without scientific research or discovered too late for the development of appropriate policies.

Environmental policy rests on a foundation of scientific research. However, the process of scientific research is not always geared to the needs of policymaking. Science seeks to prove or disprove hypotheses as a strategy for reaching enduring answers. Policy is limited in time and location: decisions must be made at a given time for a specific jurisdiction. Policymakers seek the best possible answers to issues because there is a constituency that requires an answer. Effective environmental policy requires facts derived from science as well as principles and goals derived from policy analysis. However, simply providing more scientific information does not create better policy. Scientists and policymakers often speak two different languages. An effective science-policy interface is often needed to negotiate and mediate between science and policy so that the evidence scientists provide is understandable to policymakers and other stakeholders.

Events and Articles

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Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2014

Unlike the last two June sessions, which were marred by procedural delays and agenda fights, the June 2014 Bonn Climate Change Conference was a quiet, slow dance, marked by coordinated chorography at times, and syncopated stumbling at others. 
Event 4 June 2014 - 15 June 2014

10th Session of the IPCC Working Group II and 38th session of the IPCC (IPCC-38)

Delegates met to consider the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, covering Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. At the end of the meeting, delegates approved the Summary for Policymakers and accepted the underlying report including the Technical Summary and annexes.
Event 25 March 2014 - 29 March 2014

2nd Session of the IPBES Plenary

The meeting adopted a set of decisions, known as “the Antalya Consensus,” in a major step towards operationalizing the Platform and saw the announcement that Anne Larigauderie was appointed as the first IPBES Executive Secretary.
Event 9 December 2013 - 14 December 2013

37th Session of the IPCC (IPCC-37)

The IPCC considered and adopted two methodology reports: “2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands” and “2013 Revised Supplementary Methods and Good Practice Guidance Arising from the Kyoto Protocol.” Delegates also held initial discussions on mapping the future of the IPCC and addressed a range of procedural matters.
Event 14 October 2013 - 17 October 2013

12th Session of IPCC Working Group I (WGI) and 36th session of the IPCC (IPCC-36)

IPCC delegates met in plenary and contact groups to consider the Working Group I contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report titled, “Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis” and finally approved the Summary for Policymakers, accepting the underlying report including the Technical Summary and annexes.
Event 23 September 2013 - 26 September 2013

Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2013

As delegates assembled for the annual two-week climate change conference in Bonn, the meeting was overshadowed by external events. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations had surpassed the critical 400 ppm threshold, floods ravaged parts of Europe, and the new report, “Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map,” by the International Energy Agency, picked up widely by the international media, all highlighted the need for intensive action before 2020 to combat climate change. Many wondered whether governments are up to the challenge.
Event 3 June 2013 - 14 June 2013

1st Session of the IPBES Plenary

The first session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services saw concrete achievements such as the election of the IPBES Chair, Bureau and Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP), the adoption of an initial budget, and agreement on steps toward the development of an initial IPBES work programme.
Event 21 January 2013 - 26 January 2013