Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.11.012
Titel (primär) Conceptualising uncertainty in environmental decision-making: the example of the EU Water Framework Directive
Autor Sigel, K.; Klauer, B.; Pahl-Wostl, C.
Quelle Ecological Economics
Erscheinungsjahr 2010
Department OEKON
Band/Volume 69
Heft 3
Seite von 502
Seite bis 510
Sprache englisch
Keywords Uncertainty; Lack of knowledge; Probabilities; Environmental decision-making; EU Water Framework Directive
Abstract Uncertainty is highly relevant in environmental policy because on the one hand environmental problems are regarded as complex and require a long-term perspective and on the other hand the knowledge available to practitioners and policy makers alike is often fragmentary and not systemised. One key issue arising from this is the challenge to develop scientific decision support methods that are capable of dealing with uncertainty in a systematic and differentiated way, integrating scientific as well as practical knowledge. This paper introduces a conceptual framework for perceiving and describing uncertainty in environmental decision-making. The conceptual framework consists of a general definition of uncertainty along with five complementary perspectives on the phenomenon, each highlighting one specific aspect of it. By using the conceptual framework, decision-makers are able to reflect on their knowledge base with regard to its completeness and reliability and to gain a broad picture of uncertainty from various standpoints. The theoretical ideas presented here are complemented by two empirical studies looking at how uncertainty is dealt with in the implementation process of the EU Water Framework Directive. The rather abstract differentiations are illustrated by a number of examples in the form of interview statements and excerpts from the directive and official EU documents.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=10531
Sigel, K., Klauer, B., Pahl-Wostl, C. (2010):
Conceptualising uncertainty in environmental decision-making: the example of the EU Water Framework Directive
Ecol. Econ. 69 (3), 502 - 510 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.11.012