ERIC Number: EJ1132377
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-May
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1744-2648
EISSN: N/A
Scientific Data and Its Limits: Rethinking the Use of Evidence in Local Climate Change Policy
Pearce, Warren
Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, v10 n2 p187-203 May 2014
Climate policy is typically seen as informed by scientific evidence that anthropogenic carbon emissions require reducing in order to avoid dangerous consequences. However, agreement on these matters has not translated into effective policy. Using interviews with local authority officials in the UK's East Midlands region, this paper argues that the ideas, arguments and data informing local climate policy have been grounded in evidence from the natural sciences. Focusing on carbon emissions data demonstrated a consensus around scientific knowledge, not local policy responses to this knowledge. Acknowledging this "mistaken consensus" provides the potential to utilise evidence more attentive to local contexts.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Climate, Public Policy, Evidence Based Practice, Evidence, Energy Conservation, Pollution, Theory Practice Relationship, Interviews, Geographic Regions, Natural Sciences, Convergent Thinking, Information Utilization
Policy Press. University of Bristol, 1-9 Old Park Hill, Bristol BS2 8BB, UK. Tel: +44-117-954-5940; e-mail: pp-info@policypress.co.uk; Web site: https://policypress.co.uk/journals/evidence-and-policy
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A