Abstract
Since the mid-1980s, the study of climate change and climate change policy has become increasingly popular. As greater numbers of researchers have begun focusing on this issue, specialized discourses have evolved with respect to its description and analysis. I aim to identify the ways in which specially constructed research constellations and knowledge production networks in the field of climate change function. As many diverse institutions and decision-making bodies are interested in this subject on the national, regional and international levels, the development of networks which transfer and translate knowledge about climate change and potential policy solutions to this problem is becoming increasingly important as a means to access, affect and understand current policies and discourses on climate change. The purpose of my study is to gauge the level of influence that “researchers” or “experts” in climate change discourse have in the concrete decision-making sphere. Generally, I am interested in exploring how the relationships between environmental research and practical policy implementation are created and function. The empirical portion of my research involved interviews with academic experts of leading American and European environmental knowledge networks. One of these institutions was the IDGEC.
The particular question of my poster presentation will be how IDGEC as an institution itself works on the one hand in the academic sphere and on the other hand influences environmental policies. I show this issue with a systematic view on climate change issues and describe the work of researchers connected to climate change who especially work in so-called knowledge networks.
I developed a typology of knowledge networks which are active in climate policy and compare these four types by means of different criteria. IDGEC is a good example of one of these types. My poster explores the importance of generating, explaining and translating scientific knowledge in the sphere of environmental policy. One tableau that stands behind all these empirical findings is the subject of the interaction of economic and ecological interests in the development of environmental treaties. In conclusion I hope with the findings in my poster I can inspire people to explore new ideas for the further work of IDGEC and can help to systematize the utilization of IDGECs potential to save ‘our common future’.
I would be very delighted if you could offer me the possibility to participate in this very interesting conference. In addition to my strong scientific interest it would be a special pleasure for me to meet people who are interested in the further process of IDGEC research.
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