Towards a global consensus on matters of science : how process and membership can generate valid and sustainable science advice in multilateral environmental treaty negotiations

In most multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), science advisory bodies (SABs) are tasked with producing guidance on scientific aspects of the problem. SABs are a necessary infrastructure of global environmental management because they provide a forum where experts come together to negotiate a consensus on matters of science relevant to a given MEA. This consensus, much more than merely an assessment of available information, creates new knowledge that feeds into decision-making. I propose, that to contribute effectively to implementation, this consensus must be both valid (scientifically accurate) and sustainable (acceptable to stakeholders and not requiring frequent renegotiation). This thesis identifies two institutional design features of an SAB that are crucial for obtaining a valid and sustainable outcome: representative membership, and a transparent and flexible organization of work. A three-tier SAB design is recommended based on these findings, and its theoretical application to the provision of science in the Biodiversity regime is explored. Representative membership describes the individual experts chosen to contribute to an SAB's work. To maximize validity and sustainability, I identify several kinds of diversity which can enhance the validity and sustainability of the SAB outcome, namely national. economic. institutional, disciplinary, regional and personal diversity. A process which is both transparent and flexible are also classified into several types of transparency and flexibility. including: access to meetings; document release; and the establishment of norms and procedures.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Kohler, Pia M. (Pia Marili)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lawrence E. Susskind.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34406

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/34406