Can earth system science be a valued element of fair and effective earth system governance?

Abstract

The hypothesis examined here is that Earth system scientists have become less relevant, or even irrelevant, to Earth system governance. We explore whether this proposition is true and, if it is, why this situation has arisen. By undertaking a review of current national efforts (in the UK and Australia) and a novel proposal regarding the use of the IPCC as a global governance tool, we try to discover under what, if any, circumstances Earth system science is valued in the development of environmental governance. These discussions lead us to the conclusion that targeted Earth system research (e.g. risk and resilience of systems and quantification of benefits of system components) can be genuinely valuable for future environmental governance. We, therefore, invite consideration of how Earth system researchers might be (re-) integrated into global Earth system governance development to the benefit of all.