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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Thursday, 28.03.2024, 20:19

Science helping politicians: World congress in Copenhagen

Eugene Eteris, special report from Copenhagen, Denmark, 10.03.2009.Print version
Unabated development is presently regarded as economically distorting. Resolving systematic environmental risks concerning global climate change strive for the adequate systematic approaches from the global community leaders. These are some recommendations from a world climate congress titled: “Climate change: global risks, challenges and decisions” opened today in the Danish capital’s Bella Center.

The global community has decided that contribution from natural, social and political science shall be a background of optimal decision-making. The world cannot afford any more to proceed with unrestricted and uncontrolled economic development. Natural, mostly, and social scientists as well as eco-engineers and technicians from about 80 countries gathered in Copenhagen to elaborate scientific recommendations for the public and politicians concerning future decision-making. 


Solid ground for policymakers

Congress in Copenhagen “Climate change: Global risks, Challenges and Decisions” is convened by the International Alliance of Research Universities, IARU, in association with the Copenhagen University. It is regarded in the world as a solid scientific forum to develop reliable scenarios of present and future changes in global climate, the risks presented and possible decisions to be taken. In 57 parallel sessions scientists are addressing technological possibilities for mitigating climate change and the roles societies will be affected. More than 1500 reports and presentations are available to the public during 3 days of congress’ work.

 

It is expected then, that based on scientific knowledge and existing technologies the policymakers would take “solidly grounded” scientific decisions. It is clear that only science provides politicians with solid and reliable knowledge to base their strategic decision-making.

 

One wonders however, if any new data can provide the politicians around the world with impetus to change the traditional path they make decisions.


Congress organizers’ opinion

Prof. Katherine Richardson, vice Dean at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen:

 

With 90 per cent certainty we can say that human actions have been the source and reasons for global climate changes. What we want to do is to provide politicians with final and proven scientific data for decision-making. The lion of work is clear simple: scientific facts through media into decision-making! Mitigation and adaptation balance to approaches to climate change is absolutely in the center of policymakers’ work.

 

Ian Chubb, president of Australian National University, and president of International Alliance of Research Universities, IARU (created in January 2006):

 

University’s role is to “develop evidences” for politicians’ rational decisions. Therefore, the better we inform the public and politicians, the better will be the outcome decision-making. We have to defend our common values and insist on what we share against what divides us.  

 

John Ashton, special UK government environmental envoi at global climate conferences: 

 

The problem is that very often politicians do not quite understand the challenges the natural scientists are facing with and hence their recommendations. We need a systematic approach to existing systematic problems and risks. What science gives to the public, we expect that politicians would transfer into adequate decision-making process.   


Risks

It is almost recognized by the global community with 90% certainty that human actions are the reason of contemporary climate change devastating the Earth. Hence, the risks are great; we need the global scientific community to address them “scientifically”, and provide the public with a solid information on causes and consequences of present still largely uncontrolled development.


Challenges

The congress participants intend, first, to understand how deep is the ecological and climate change’s crisis. Second, how to adapt to needed changes; and third, what decisions shall be made.

 

The first two issues being almost a sole domain of natural scientists while the latter is that of the policymakers; both share the responsibility.


Decisions

Unabated development will be devastating for economy, no doubt about it. Therefore, the “controlled development” is the present political reality in most countries: what and how we produce our most needed goods and commodities the issues that are going to be thoroughly scrutinized. Completely new sector of economy, “green economy” is developing to deal with negative effect of human development. Future policy-making is going to be guided by science. That needs better communication between science and politics, probably expanding the limits of present decision-making structures. 

 

It’s interesting, what kind of solutions the leaders in the Baltic States have in mind concerning sustainable development? What decisions are there to protect the Baltic Sea environment? Important that such decisions are not too late!

 






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