Basic carbon cycle research is needed to better understand what the impact of human activities is on our Earth’s ecosystem and climate functioning. While that research is going on, critical decisions are being made at all levels of society, from international organizations and national governments down to individual businesses and households. We cannot afford to wait until all necessary research is done to begin to provide usable science that meets the needs of these decision makers. Producing usable science requires choices about the management of science and the kinds of questions asked right from the start of the research program.

Does anyone know of social science approaches that provide analysis of policy needs across the diverse community of climate decision makers? At the moment, it seems that the policy community is vast and diverse, while the carbon cycle research community is focused on very specific questions that are cannot address the immediate needs of the decision makers.

More Molly Elizabeth Brown's questions See All
Similar questions and discussions