A34E-07 Enhancing science-policy linkages to inform chemicals governance

Abstract: Multiple global treaties, programs and bodies that set out to address the significant environmental and human health problems posed by transboundary chemicals pollution have been created over the past five decades. Building on research on international science-policy interactions on chemicals, we make concrete recommendations for researchers who seek to inform international action on transboundary chemicals pollution. We caution scientists against making assumptions about policy relevance that are poorly grounded in social science research. Specifically, we argue that further attempts to establish a planetary-scale boundary for chemical pollution in the form of novel entities are unlikely to effectively inform international political action and policy-making. Instead, we outline three ways in which researchers can contribute to the strengthening of the science-policy interface on chemicals more constructively. First, we highlight that research on transboundary chemicals should account for bottom-up (local and community-driven) as well as top-down perspectives, underscoring that even for widespread pollutants impacts are mainly experienced in particular places. Second, we stress the importance of continuing to focus on further building scientific capacity in regions that historically have lacked expertise to contribute to learning. Third, we suggest that researchers could help develop new indicators of global burden of disease and global environmental burden attributable to chemicals and wastes under the Global Framework for Chemicals. Related to the development of useful indicators, we leverage results from a research project examining science-policy linkages under global treaties on hazardous substances to highlight ways in which previous efforts to derive indicators have influenced policy evaluation and decision-making. We find while very different institutional structures for evaluation can lead to learning and action, close integration with decision-making is necessary to ensure credibility, salience, and legitimacy to global treaty parties.