Science-Policy interactions in the water sector – Some reflections on the role of

science academies

Philippe QUEVAUVILLEREuropean Commission

DG ResearchDirectorate I ‘Environment’

Base sketch from Meade (1996) and DPSIR from EEA

D

D

P P

S

S

SP

SI

bio-physical systembio-physical system

R

societal systemsocietal system

River Basin ManagementRiver Basin Management

Understanding the system: Needs for multi-disciplinary and sectoral undertakings

Driving Forces Pressure State Impact

Agriculture

Industry

Energy

Transport

Services

Households/

Consumption

Discharges

Landuse

Resource use

Environmental

conditions:

physical chemical ecological

Nature and

environment

Health

Response

R

D P S I

Looking at different sectors – Integrated knowledge and policy implications?

Source: EEA

Understanding the system= integrated knowledge (mixing natural, social, economic sciences)

WFDAdopted on 20.12.2000

River basin districtsDelineation water bodies

2005

Analysis of pressuresand impacts

2005

GOOD STATUS

OBJECTIVE

RBMP – 2009/2015Programmes of

Measures2012

Design of monitoringProgrammes

2006

Classification of bodies ‘at risk’

Account of classification: Surveillance monitoring Operational monitoring

(+ investigative monitoring)

6 years cycle / Review

Linking knowledge to policy implementation – Anticipating & Feedingwith research outputslinked to well defined

Poliy milestones

Parent legislation(e.g. Flood Directive)

+But also…..

FP6/7IPs

LIFE Interreg

Research Trans-boundary implementation

Demonstration& testing

FP6/7 ERA-Nets

AQUATERR

AQUATERRAA

RISKBASE

RISKBASEWAGRICO

WAGRICO Water4All

Water4All

IWRM-Net

SNOWMAN

R&D responding to driver’s needs, yes, but should we not put some order in the house to avoid missing opportunities?

Co-operation and co-ordination of research

COST

Co-operation & networking

Evalu

atio

n of

miti

gatio

n optio

ns

Courtesy Bob Harris, Sheffield University

DESIGN OFPOLICY

POLICYDEVELOPMENT

POLICYIMPLEMENTATION

POLICYREVIEW

RESEARCH,SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS,POLICY INTEGRATION

Establishing links with ‘science-users’

Water DirectorsSteering of implementation process

Chair: Presidency, Co-chair: Commission

Strategic Co-ordination GroupCo-ordination of work programme

Chair: Commission

Stakeholders, NGO’s, Researchers, Experts, etc.

Art. 21 Committee

Example of established platform:

Common Implementation Strategy 2010-2012

Established working groups Temporary working groups

WG A“Ecological Status”

Chair: JRC, DE, UK

WG D“Reporting”

Chair: EC, EEA, FR

WG F“Floods”

Chair: EC, IE

WG C“Groundwater”

Chair: EC, AT

WG E“Chemical Aspects”Chair: EC, JRC, IT, FR, SE

ClimateChange & WFD

Chair: DE, EC

WFD andAgricultureChair: FR, UK

Water scarcityand drought

Chair: IT, FR, ES

•who - is your audience or the users of the information?

•what - do they need to know?

•how - is it best presented?

•when - do they need the information?

Translators/transformersa two-way process

ResearchCommunity

“Doers of science”

“Translator/ Transformer” “Users”(e.g. Policymakers &

regulators)

TRANSLATING & UNDERSTANDING

DEFI NI NG THE NEEDS

Courtesy of Peter Allen-Williams (IWRM.Net) & Bob Harris

Communication involves two ways exchanges of information

Can Science Academies help in the „transforming“ work?

Research resultsFour stages to implementation

CommunicationDissemination ImplementationUptake

EU- or NATIONAL PROJECTS International / National / Regional Policy and Research

Research

Courtesy of Peter Allen-Williams (IWRM.Net) & Bob Harris

A role for Science Academies?

EU-Funded research

RTD synergies,Critical mass?

Links with EU,National, regional

stakeholders?

Joint disseminationstrategies, communication

efforts (single voice)?

Linking initiatives on relevant themes

Case studies

Project data:EEA, WISE?

Links with regionalprojects, incl.INTERREG?

Links with River BasinAuthorities, local science

providers, others?

Linking specific case studies at relevant scales

HighAuthorities

Coordinating Groups,

Incl. Academies?

Policy ImplementationWorking Groups

‘Users’ of Science information(RBD level, local)

Policy question & purpose

Scientific / TechnicalRecommendations

Implementation

Transfer and use of research: where to start, top-down or bottom-up?

1st level of communication through “Science-Policy Briefs”

• Science-Policy Briefs should have a ‘cascade’ effect, starting from policy questions to which science contributes to bring responses (decision-makers), and providing technical/scientific recommendations with increased level of details (implementers)

• Briefs are an incentive to consider potentially interesting research outputs but they do not ensure themselves an appropriate transfer: needs for downscaling ‘relays’ and demonstration at river basin levels

• Usability conditioned by proper communication (guides?) and language barriers

The XEROCHORE project (drought research) has produced 5 Science Policy Briefs on the link between drought and the EU Water Framework Directive, i.e.:

- characterisation of water bodies and of the analysis of pressures and impacts (Art. 5)- monitoring of surface water and groundwater status and of protected areas (Art. 8 -

relevant also for Art. 1)- recovery of costs for water services (Art. 9)- implementing a programme of measures (Art. 11, including Annex VI part b)- river basin management plans (Art.13)

Example of Science-Policy Briefs

Accessible science information, from state-of-the-art review up to “cooking recipes” describing how to apply specific research outputs

2nd level of communication through “technical guides”

Effective communication / use at catchment level!

Image from presentation by Dr Peter Heiland used.

Sustainable land use practices !

Expertise, tools

Research recommendationsLinked to policies (short to long-term goals)

Scientificknowledge

INTERFACE

Transfer & dissem.“usability”

Data infrastructure“memory”

Demonstration, practical worksat most appropriate level / scale

Interactive interfacePOLICY-MAKERSMember States

Commission

Interfacing needs

Research

EU-wide

DEVELOPMENT

National

Results (info / data) directly usable/

transferable?

PolicyExpert Groups

Webportal

USERSDATA ACCESS

INFORMATIONACCESS

INFORMATIONEXCHANGES

• Demonstration (applicability)• Capacity-building• Networking

Education,Training

TRAINING

YES

Data from projects

NO

IDENTIFICATIONOF RESEARCH NEEDS

A POSSIBLE OPERATIONAL SCIENCE-POLICY INTERFACE IN SUPPORT OF INTEGRATED RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT

Seen from a different angle

Conclusions – Role of Science Academies?

• ‘integrated knowledge’ is a must to effectively support policies – this requires multi-disciplinary and sectoral cooperation. Science Academies may have a liaison role in this respect

• An operational science-policy interfacing is essential to ensure proper synergies and take-up of scientific results by “users”. Possibilities for Science Academies to contribute to relays of scientific information/outputs?

• Specific research needs have to be identified in which Science Academies have obviously a role to play

• Last but not least, the strong “knowledge anchorage” of Science Academies should be better used and known by policy-makers and stakeholders