Science, environmental treaties and communication

1
Science, environmental treaties and communication

• Michael Williams,United Nations Environment
  Programme,Information Unit for Conventions
  (UNEP/IUC)

2
The role of science in 7 UNEP agreements, UNFCCC,
UNCCD

• To quantify and evaluate risks ? objective
• To quantify and evaluate solutions ? commitments
  
• To frame debate ? precaution/science criteria
• To give legitimacy to convention and decisions

3
The ozone regime Vienna and Montreal

• (ad hoc) Scientific Assessment Panel
• Environmental Effects Assessment Panel
• Technical and Economic Assessment Panel
• Ozone research managers

4
Communicating the ozone layer

• Power of the ozone hole image
• Links to human health
• Limited range of chemicals and effects
• An environmental success story
• Links to climate change

5
The Climate Change Convention and the IPCC

• The IPCC assessments (causes, impacts, response
  options)
• Science ? politics via SBSTA
• Strengths independence, reputation, consensus
• Issues uncertainties, sceptics, politics
• Communications constraints, popularising,
  polarized debate ? mixed messages

6
Stockholm Convention on POPs

• Targeting the dirty dozen
• The POPs Review Committee ? COP
• The Global POPs monitoring network
• Communications human health focus,DDT
  controversy, endocrine disrupters

7
Biological diversity (CBD)

• Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical,
  Technological Advice (SBSTTA) and technical
  expert groups
• Assess biodiversity and measures
• Unwieldy agenda, balance between science and
  politics
• Communications complexity, lack of focus,
  abstract, process-oriented, non-binding targets,
  individual species and places more compelling

8
Conclusions the role of science in MEAs and
communications

• Objective science ? legitimacy/effectiveness
• Separate but link science process and political
  process
• Science ? evidence politics ? judgement
• Balancing precaution and scientific criteria
• The need to popularise