The history of the ozone issue falls into three broad periods: a decade of deadlock from 1975 to ... more The history of the ozone issue falls into three broad periods: a decade of deadlock from 1975 to 1985, despite repeated attempts to develop international cooperation; a rapid burst of ozone protection regime formation from 1986 to 1988, which produced the first agreement on concrete actions and most elements of the subsequent regime; and the period since 1989, which has been one of sustained progress in the elaboration and repeated adaptation of the regime's core control measures. These three distinct phases of the issue pose three explanatory challenges: explaining the dramatic transition from sustained deadlock by which the regime was established; explaining the persistent deadlock that preceded this transition; and explaining the sustained progress in building and adapting the regime that followed it. These are examined, stressing two types of processes: interactions between scientific assessments and the rhetorical use of scientific claims about environmental risk to support policy action or delay; and interactions between the setting and revision of regulatory targets, the assessment of technologies available to pursue the targets by reducing chemical usage, and the strategic responses of private industry. Some of the theoretical arguments advanced are then recast in practical terms to propose a set of lessons that the ozone issue may hold for other issues. The final section discusses limitations of the ozone regime.
Presses de l’Université de Montréal eBooks, Jul 11, 2018
Sujet de vifs débats politiques, élément crucial de la gestion publique, la protection de l’envir... more Sujet de vifs débats politiques, élément crucial de la gestion publique, la protection de l’environnement est le nouveau sujet qui a pris le plus d’importance au cours des dernières décennies — au point d’occuper aujourd’hui le premier plan au Canada et dans le monde. Bien que les origines de l’écologisme remontent aux mouvements « conservationnistes » du début du siècle — et, plus loin encore, à la hantise au sujet des « moulins du diable » qu’éprouvaient les réformistes anglais au début de ..
This report to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) provides a framework f... more This report to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) provides a framework for a five-year program of research, analysis and policy development on the c.ritical issues of global change and sustainable development It proposes that Canada's capacity for human sciences research on global issues should ~. greatly strengthened. with a significant increase in funding through SSHRC and oth~. means. It also proposes a new style of research aimed at meeting a growing and urgent demand for infonned policy on global change issues. 2. This proposal on the Social Challenge of Global Change has been developed by the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP). in cooperation with the Royal Society of Canada' (RSC). Preparation of the proposal has been supported by SSHRC, as part of the Council's 'one time experimental program designed to help identify priority areas for research and to explore ways of enhancing the national contribution of the social sciences and humanities.• 1 3. The program has been conceived within a broad international context. marked by exploding demands for information. policy development; and action. and a growing need to understand and, where possible, influence the phenomena of global change. The program is based on the view that 'research on topics of national importance', research that is linked to 'the challenges faced by contemporary society'2, should be conceived both to advance knowledge and to suggest solutions. Such research can be expected to address the illnesses of, or threats to, Canadian and global society, in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Aug 8, 2022
Making informed future decisions about solar radiation modification (SRM; also known as solar geo... more Making informed future decisions about solar radiation modification (SRM; also known as solar geoengineering)—approaches such as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) that would cool the climate by reflecting sunlight—requires projections of the climate response and associated human and ecosystem impacts. These projections, in turn, will rely on simulations with global climate models. As with climate-change projections, these simulations need to adequately span a range of possible futures, describing different choices, such as start date and temperature target, as well as risks, such as termination or interruptions. SRM modeling simulations to date typically consider only a single scenario, often with some unrealistic or arbitrarily chosen elements (such as starting deployment in 2020), and have often been chosen based on scientific rather than policy-relevant considerations (e.g., choosing quite substantial cooling specifically to achieve a bigger response). This limits the ability to compare risks both between SRM and non-SRM scenarios and between different SRM scenarios. To address this gap, we begin by outlining some general considerations on scenario design for SRM. We then describe a specific set of scenarios to capture a range of possible policy choices and uncertainties and present corresponding SAI simulations intended for broad community use.
Are we on the verge of a global environmental catastrophe, or is a modest revision of environment... more Are we on the verge of a global environmental catastrophe, or is a modest revision of environmental policy all that is necessary to ensure our safety and prosperity? Governing the Environment considers both scenarios, and those between the two extremes, in its examination of current trends and challenges in managing environmental issues. This collection of seven essays, authored by leading Canadian academics, examines different aspects of the relationship between government and environmental issues. The volume focuses on Canadian contributions and innovations in the field, but it is of relevance to audiences around the world. Parson's introductory essay sets the stage for the complex discussions to follow. He provides background by sketching the Canadian institutional context for environmental protection: by describing the major pollutant burdens and the state of natural resources, and by summarizing the most salient policy issues. His conclusion elaborates on four major themes emerging from the work. These are the achievement of 'adaptive management'; the challenge of building effective government and interjurisdictional capacities for managing the environment; the need for networks to share responsibility more effectively without overlapping tasks; and finally, the real challenge to state authority that these undertakings represent. This work is written for a multidisciplinary academic audience, encompassing students and teachers of advanced environmental studies and Canadian public policy.
for valuable comments on earlier drafts, as well as all panelists and participants at the May 201... more for valuable comments on earlier drafts, as well as all panelists and participants at the May 2015 LCFS workshop at the UCLA School of Law. We also thank Garrett Lenahan and Nathaniel Logar for assistance in editing. The authors are responsible for any remaining errors, and the views expressed in this report are solely the authors' own.
A Subtle Balance critically reflects on major trends and enduring challenges over the last four d... more A Subtle Balance critically reflects on major trends and enduring challenges over the last four decades of public policy and governance. During this time, a tension has existed between two aims for public decisions: that they be based on the best available evidence and analysis, and that they be fully democratic. This period has seen a continuing drive for more direct citizen engagement in decision-making and governments trying to address major policy issues through novel consultative and collaborative processes. In essays that offer detailed and novel insights into the recent history of specific issues in social policy, environmental policy, and processes of policy advice and decision-making, contributors elaborate on how these trends have played out in diverse areas of practice, what their consequences have been, and how specific institutional reforms could reset the requisite balance between expertise, evidence, and democracy in Canadian public policy. Inspired by the wide-ranging contributions to scholarship and practice of A.R. (Rod) Dobell, A Subtle Balance draws on the influences of distinguished scholars and sophisticated practitioners of public policy to assess recent changes in governance. Contributors include Martin Bunton, Barry Carin, Ian Clark, Rachel Culley, Rod Dobell, Lia Ernst, Jill Horwitz, John Langford, Justin Longo, Michael Prince, Harry Swain, Charles Ungerleider, Josee van Eijndhoven, Michael Wolfson, and David Zussman.
When a research area addresses a compelling social need, yet also raises serious concerns and con... more When a research area addresses a compelling social need, yet also raises serious concerns and controversies, often the appropriate response is to pursue the research, but to do so in the context of a governance framework that adequately addresses the associated concerns. In this way, society has conducted research and advanced knowledge in various challenging areas, such as early recombinant DNA research, stem cells, research on human subjects, radioactive or biohazardous materials, etc.
The history of the ozone issue falls into three broad periods: a decade of deadlock from 1975 to ... more The history of the ozone issue falls into three broad periods: a decade of deadlock from 1975 to 1985, despite repeated attempts to develop international cooperation; a rapid burst of ozone protection regime formation from 1986 to 1988, which produced the first agreement on concrete actions and most elements of the subsequent regime; and the period since 1989, which has been one of sustained progress in the elaboration and repeated adaptation of the regime's core control measures. These three distinct phases of the issue pose three explanatory challenges: explaining the dramatic transition from sustained deadlock by which the regime was established; explaining the persistent deadlock that preceded this transition; and explaining the sustained progress in building and adapting the regime that followed it. These are examined, stressing two types of processes: interactions between scientific assessments and the rhetorical use of scientific claims about environmental risk to support policy action or delay; and interactions between the setting and revision of regulatory targets, the assessment of technologies available to pursue the targets by reducing chemical usage, and the strategic responses of private industry. Some of the theoretical arguments advanced are then recast in practical terms to propose a set of lessons that the ozone issue may hold for other issues. The final section discusses limitations of the ozone regime.
Presses de l’Université de Montréal eBooks, Jul 11, 2018
Sujet de vifs débats politiques, élément crucial de la gestion publique, la protection de l’envir... more Sujet de vifs débats politiques, élément crucial de la gestion publique, la protection de l’environnement est le nouveau sujet qui a pris le plus d’importance au cours des dernières décennies — au point d’occuper aujourd’hui le premier plan au Canada et dans le monde. Bien que les origines de l’écologisme remontent aux mouvements « conservationnistes » du début du siècle — et, plus loin encore, à la hantise au sujet des « moulins du diable » qu’éprouvaient les réformistes anglais au début de ..
This report to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) provides a framework f... more This report to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) provides a framework for a five-year program of research, analysis and policy development on the c.ritical issues of global change and sustainable development It proposes that Canada's capacity for human sciences research on global issues should ~. greatly strengthened. with a significant increase in funding through SSHRC and oth~. means. It also proposes a new style of research aimed at meeting a growing and urgent demand for infonned policy on global change issues. 2. This proposal on the Social Challenge of Global Change has been developed by the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP). in cooperation with the Royal Society of Canada' (RSC). Preparation of the proposal has been supported by SSHRC, as part of the Council's 'one time experimental program designed to help identify priority areas for research and to explore ways of enhancing the national contribution of the social sciences and humanities.• 1 3. The program has been conceived within a broad international context. marked by exploding demands for information. policy development; and action. and a growing need to understand and, where possible, influence the phenomena of global change. The program is based on the view that 'research on topics of national importance', research that is linked to 'the challenges faced by contemporary society'2, should be conceived both to advance knowledge and to suggest solutions. Such research can be expected to address the illnesses of, or threats to, Canadian and global society, in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Aug 8, 2022
Making informed future decisions about solar radiation modification (SRM; also known as solar geo... more Making informed future decisions about solar radiation modification (SRM; also known as solar geoengineering)—approaches such as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) that would cool the climate by reflecting sunlight—requires projections of the climate response and associated human and ecosystem impacts. These projections, in turn, will rely on simulations with global climate models. As with climate-change projections, these simulations need to adequately span a range of possible futures, describing different choices, such as start date and temperature target, as well as risks, such as termination or interruptions. SRM modeling simulations to date typically consider only a single scenario, often with some unrealistic or arbitrarily chosen elements (such as starting deployment in 2020), and have often been chosen based on scientific rather than policy-relevant considerations (e.g., choosing quite substantial cooling specifically to achieve a bigger response). This limits the ability to compare risks both between SRM and non-SRM scenarios and between different SRM scenarios. To address this gap, we begin by outlining some general considerations on scenario design for SRM. We then describe a specific set of scenarios to capture a range of possible policy choices and uncertainties and present corresponding SAI simulations intended for broad community use.
Are we on the verge of a global environmental catastrophe, or is a modest revision of environment... more Are we on the verge of a global environmental catastrophe, or is a modest revision of environmental policy all that is necessary to ensure our safety and prosperity? Governing the Environment considers both scenarios, and those between the two extremes, in its examination of current trends and challenges in managing environmental issues. This collection of seven essays, authored by leading Canadian academics, examines different aspects of the relationship between government and environmental issues. The volume focuses on Canadian contributions and innovations in the field, but it is of relevance to audiences around the world. Parson's introductory essay sets the stage for the complex discussions to follow. He provides background by sketching the Canadian institutional context for environmental protection: by describing the major pollutant burdens and the state of natural resources, and by summarizing the most salient policy issues. His conclusion elaborates on four major themes emerging from the work. These are the achievement of 'adaptive management'; the challenge of building effective government and interjurisdictional capacities for managing the environment; the need for networks to share responsibility more effectively without overlapping tasks; and finally, the real challenge to state authority that these undertakings represent. This work is written for a multidisciplinary academic audience, encompassing students and teachers of advanced environmental studies and Canadian public policy.
for valuable comments on earlier drafts, as well as all panelists and participants at the May 201... more for valuable comments on earlier drafts, as well as all panelists and participants at the May 2015 LCFS workshop at the UCLA School of Law. We also thank Garrett Lenahan and Nathaniel Logar for assistance in editing. The authors are responsible for any remaining errors, and the views expressed in this report are solely the authors' own.
A Subtle Balance critically reflects on major trends and enduring challenges over the last four d... more A Subtle Balance critically reflects on major trends and enduring challenges over the last four decades of public policy and governance. During this time, a tension has existed between two aims for public decisions: that they be based on the best available evidence and analysis, and that they be fully democratic. This period has seen a continuing drive for more direct citizen engagement in decision-making and governments trying to address major policy issues through novel consultative and collaborative processes. In essays that offer detailed and novel insights into the recent history of specific issues in social policy, environmental policy, and processes of policy advice and decision-making, contributors elaborate on how these trends have played out in diverse areas of practice, what their consequences have been, and how specific institutional reforms could reset the requisite balance between expertise, evidence, and democracy in Canadian public policy. Inspired by the wide-ranging contributions to scholarship and practice of A.R. (Rod) Dobell, A Subtle Balance draws on the influences of distinguished scholars and sophisticated practitioners of public policy to assess recent changes in governance. Contributors include Martin Bunton, Barry Carin, Ian Clark, Rachel Culley, Rod Dobell, Lia Ernst, Jill Horwitz, John Langford, Justin Longo, Michael Prince, Harry Swain, Charles Ungerleider, Josee van Eijndhoven, Michael Wolfson, and David Zussman.
When a research area addresses a compelling social need, yet also raises serious concerns and con... more When a research area addresses a compelling social need, yet also raises serious concerns and controversies, often the appropriate response is to pursue the research, but to do so in the context of a governance framework that adequately addresses the associated concerns. In this way, society has conducted research and advanced knowledge in various challenging areas, such as early recombinant DNA research, stem cells, research on human subjects, radioactive or biohazardous materials, etc.
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Papers by Edward Parson