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to be addressed to improve science-policy interactions in Baltic Sea environmental
governance: ( 1 ) more adaptive organisational structures in terms of time, context
and place dependency, ( 2 ) increased knowledge integrations, ( 3 ) a more careful
consideration of stakeholder participation and deliberation, ( 4 ) better management
of uncertainty and disagreements and ( 5 ) increased transparency and refl ection in
the communication of science-policy processes.
Keywords Science-policy interactions • Marine policy • Post-normal science •
Uncertainty management • Stakeholder participation
8.1 Introduction
The fi ve cases of environmental governance studied in this project have been identifi ed as key large-scale environmental problems and risks in the Baltic Sea (see Gilek
et al. 2016 ; HELCOM 2010 ): fi sheries, eutrophication, invasive alien species ,
chemical pollution and oil discharges linked to marine transportation. However, as
revealed throughout the previous chapters, they differ substantially in terms of the
complexity of risk sources, the available knowledge and the uncertainties connected
to assessing environmental effects for advising decision-making, as well as with
respect to the degrees of ambiguity and sociopolitical controversy involved in policy
and management (Gilek et al. 2011 ).
In this chapter, we investigate the interactions between risk assessment (science)
and risk management (policy) in the fi ve different cases. We analyse and compare
these interactions using a theoretical framework on science-policy interfaces
described in Sect. 8.2. Specifi cally, we study how organisational structures and processes of science-policy interactions adapt to key challenges of science and management in environmental governance by focusing on different forms of uncertainty,
as well as on stakeholder confl icts and disagreements involved in science and/versus
policy in the fi ve cases. We also trace the respective management reactions to these
challenges in each of the cases using a typology of different kinds of incomplete
knowledge and their consequences for management responses as described below
(Sect. 8.2.2 ). Through this comparative study of science-policy interfaces across the
five cases, we point out institutional and procedural hindrances, challenges
and prospects for improving science-policy interactions for a more effective and
sustainable environmental governance of the Baltic Sea. Following the discussion
on our theoretical framework, we present the results of our analysis of the fi ve
science- policy interfaces (Sect. 8.3 ). The two sections thereafter discuss the outcomes of the study (Sect. 8.4 ) and provide conclusions and recommendations (Sect.
8.5 ), respectively.
S. Linke et al.
to be addressed to improve science-policy interactions in Baltic Sea environmental
governance: ( 1 ) more adaptive organisational structures in terms of time, context
and place dependency, ( 2 ) increased knowledge integrations, ( 3 ) a more careful
consideration of stakeholder participation and deliberation, ( 4 ) better management
of uncertainty and disagreements and ( 5 ) increased transparency and refl ection in
the communication of science-policy processes.
Keywords Science-policy interactions • Marine policy • Post-normal science •
Uncertainty management • Stakeholder participation
8.1 Introduction
The fi ve cases of environmental governance studied in this project have been identifi ed as key large-scale environmental problems and risks in the Baltic Sea (see Gilek
et al. 2016 ; HELCOM 2010 ): fi sheries, eutrophication, invasive alien species ,
chemical pollution and oil discharges linked to marine transportation. However, as
revealed throughout the previous chapters, they differ substantially in terms of the
complexity of risk sources, the available knowledge and the uncertainties connected
to assessing environmental effects for advising decision-making, as well as with
respect to the degrees of ambiguity and sociopolitical controversy involved in policy
and management (Gilek et al. 2011 ).
In this chapter, we investigate the interactions between risk assessment (science)
and risk management (policy) in the fi ve different cases. We analyse and compare
these interactions using a theoretical framework on science-policy interfaces
described in Sect. 8.2. Specifi cally, we study how organisational structures and processes of science-policy interactions adapt to key challenges of science and management in environmental governance by focusing on different forms of uncertainty,
as well as on stakeholder confl icts and disagreements involved in science and/versus
policy in the fi ve cases. We also trace the respective management reactions to these
challenges in each of the cases using a typology of different kinds of incomplete
knowledge and their consequences for management responses as described below
(Sect. 8.2.2 ). Through this comparative study of science-policy interfaces across the
five cases, we point out institutional and procedural hindrances, challenges
and prospects for improving science-policy interactions for a more effective and
sustainable environmental governance of the Baltic Sea. Following the discussion
on our theoretical framework, we present the results of our analysis of the fi ve
science- policy interfaces (Sect. 8.3 ). The two sections thereafter discuss the outcomes of the study (Sect. 8.4 ) and provide conclusions and recommendations (Sect.
8.5 ), respectively.
S. Linke et al.