173
© The Author(s) 2016
M. Gilek et al. (eds.), Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea,
MARE Publication Series 10, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27006-7_8
Chapter 8
Science-Policy Interfaces in Baltic Sea
Environmental Governance: Towards
Regional Cooperation and Management
of Uncertainty?
Sebastian Linke , Michael Gilek , and Mikael Karlsson
Abstract This chapter investigates and compares the interactions between science
and policy (risk assessments and risk management) in fi ve cases of environmental
governance of the Baltic Sea: eutrophication, fi sheries, invasive alien species, chemical pollution and oil discharges. An effi cient interplay between science and policy
is important for successful environmental governance, which applies particularly to
the Baltic Sea where all fi ve risks pose serious threats to environmental, social and
economic aspects of sustainability. We use science-policy theory and an analytical
framework based on a categorisation of relevant management responses linked to
different states of incomplete knowledge (risk, uncertainty, ambiguity, ignorance) to
investigate two main characteristics of science-policy interfaces: (1) organisational
structures and (2) procedural aspects of managing scientifi c uncertainties and
stakeholder disagreements. The analyses reveal differences and similarities in institutional and organisational designs of the respective assessment-management interactions, as well as in terms of how scientifi c uncertainties, stakeholder disagreements
and sociopolitical ambiguities are addressed. All the fi ve science-policy interfaces
expose science-based management approaches that commonly are not able to cope
suffi ciently well with the complexities, uncertainties and ambiguities at hand. Based
on our cross-case analyses, we conclude by recommending fi ve key aspects that need
S. Linke (*)
Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science , University of Gothenburg ,
Box 200 , 405 30 Göteborg , Sweden
e-mail: sebastian.linke@gu.se
M. Gilek • M. Karlsson
School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies , Södertörn University ,
14189 Huddinge , Sweden
e-mail: michael.gilek@sh.se; mikael.karlsson@2050.se
© The Author(s) 2016
M. Gilek et al. (eds.), Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea,
MARE Publication Series 10, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27006-7_8
Chapter 8
Science-Policy Interfaces in Baltic Sea
Environmental Governance: Towards
Regional Cooperation and Management
of Uncertainty?
Sebastian Linke , Michael Gilek , and Mikael Karlsson
Abstract This chapter investigates and compares the interactions between science
and policy (risk assessments and risk management) in fi ve cases of environmental
governance of the Baltic Sea: eutrophication, fi sheries, invasive alien species, chemical pollution and oil discharges. An effi cient interplay between science and policy
is important for successful environmental governance, which applies particularly to
the Baltic Sea where all fi ve risks pose serious threats to environmental, social and
economic aspects of sustainability. We use science-policy theory and an analytical
framework based on a categorisation of relevant management responses linked to
different states of incomplete knowledge (risk, uncertainty, ambiguity, ignorance) to
investigate two main characteristics of science-policy interfaces: (1) organisational
structures and (2) procedural aspects of managing scientifi c uncertainties and
stakeholder disagreements. The analyses reveal differences and similarities in institutional and organisational designs of the respective assessment-management interactions, as well as in terms of how scientifi c uncertainties, stakeholder disagreements
and sociopolitical ambiguities are addressed. All the fi ve science-policy interfaces
expose science-based management approaches that commonly are not able to cope
suffi ciently well with the complexities, uncertainties and ambiguities at hand. Based
on our cross-case analyses, we conclude by recommending fi ve key aspects that need
S. Linke (*)
Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science , University of Gothenburg ,
Box 200 , 405 30 Göteborg , Sweden
e-mail: sebastian.linke@gu.se
M. Gilek • M. Karlsson
School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies , Södertörn University ,
14189 Huddinge , Sweden
e-mail: michael.gilek@sh.se; mikael.karlsson@2050.se