Science-Policy Disconnects, Unintended Consequences, and the Role of Citizens
From Coastal Sarasota Watersheds Wiki
Title: Science and Policy Decision Disconnects
Discussion Leader: Jon Thaxton
Advocacy
- Permittee (i.e. phosphate miner, home owner) pays someone to advocate on their behalf
- Permitor (i.e. government agency) has staff to meet the objectives of the agency, uphold the law (law is often written by policy-makers who may not have science or environment as their primary concern)
- So who advocates for science-based decisions? To protect the environment?
- Activist - may be good for the environment, but may not be good advocates of the science, often lack the in-depth knowledge of the permittee’s advocates
- Scientist - often reluctant to get involved. A scientist is “not supposed to be an activist,” feels like a compromise to fact-based science ethics. May jeopardize funding if perceived as activist. Science info is not easily obtainable to policy-maker. Science info is not easily understood by non-scientist.
- Playing field is not level
- Advocate for permittee has much greater financial reward. Access to experts is easier if you have dollars. Policy and politics requires dollars.
- Some policy makers just don’t care
- Some policy makers are not interested in the facts of science.
- Need for an ombudsman type position
QUESTIONS
- How to get good science into policy?
- What are examples of your personal experience?
- Are there disconnects among different levels of government?
- Are there examples where the disconnects were overcome? And how did it happen?
DISCUSSION
- Political decision-making works on a schedule not conducive to citizen participation – time of day, postponements in the process, decisions made quickly in a way that citizen’s who are not at each meeting can’t follow
- Citizens tend to get very emotional – so easy for politicians to write them off
- Citizens get repetitive in public testimony – so organize yourselves so everyone says something different
- Citizens may include 1-2 wrong fact in a string of 5-6 facts. All facts are then dismissed
- Citizens have to stick with it, sometimes takes a very long time
- Government agencies often promulgate a rule based on science. The policy-makers then don’t “enforce” the rule and allow for “exceptions”
- Solution: Criteria in the rules need to maintain good science
- YET lawmakers want discretion in interpreting a rule. Elected officials make decisions in a democracy, not bureaucrats
- Solution: Criteria in the rules need to maintain good science
- Elected officials are not in attendance at this Symposium
- But maybe learning through their advisory committees
- Reconvening of 25 years ago – is a time frame irrelevant to politicians
- Advisory committees are under-utilized and could help explain complex topics at each of its meeting to help educate the general public. Meet in a less threatening atmosphere, easier to have discussion. Those who serve on advisory committees often don’t have sufficient knowledge. Role of staff can be both positive and negative.
- Estuary Program is an example of an effective advisory group with strong science knowledge
- How do you make an elected official want to learn?
- Have to develop clout, make noise, so politicians will listen – threat of re-election. Example from Wisconsin Land Conservation Foundation
- Voices are not created equal. Sometimes power is not in numbers.
- Politically we work with borders, yet the environment flows across borders
- Instead of talking about comp plans (which have become a compilation of decades of zoning), talk about portfolio of assets, look beyond political borders
- Specific Disconnects
- Curb and gutter and stormwater
- Zoning manual say must have them
- Prevent small animals from moving
- Lead to stormwater problems
- Siesta Beach and Grand Canal failure
- Misunderstanding around raked/unraked beach
- Curb and gutter and stormwater
- Us vs. them mentality doesn’t help. Engage with each other.
- For example Mosaic and Estuary Bay Program – have open dialogue to have better permit outcomes, better environmental outcomes
- It’s not about “win or loose,” but successes come when working in a problem-solving mode