Author／Roy Yi Ling Ngerng, Assistant Researcher, RSPRC
Participants at the 3rd Global Sustainability Strategy Forum,
including RSPRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Milan Chen (second row, first from right)
Photo credit: Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies
COVID-19 Highlights the Necessity for Scientists and Policymakers to Engage One Another for Policy Solutions
The COVID-19 pandemic that has swept across the planet in 2020 has reinforced the need for scientists and policymakers to co-develop solutions to tackle future challenges, which is increasingly important as the global community strive toward sustainability goals.
The 3rd Global Sustainability Strategy Forum organized by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in October 2020 was intended precisely to explore how scientists and policymakers can better strengthen their linkages. It was attended by 35 sustainability experts, including Risk Society and Policy Research Center (RSPRC) Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Milan Chen. Participants came from across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The forum aimed to address the question of the types of lessons that can be learned from the pandemic in terms of institutional reforms required to more effectively tackle these health concerns as well as the responsibility of science in strengthening institutions. Importantly, the forum sought to elaborate on how researchers should collaborate with policymakers as well as with businesses and non-governmental organizations, and how can policymakers be aided by sustainability science.
COVID-19 Has Highlighted the Need to Communicate Systemic Knowledge Openly to Build Trust for Transformation
Participants at the forum highlighted that when new wicked problems are sighted, these should be jointly identified and framed, to understand their risks and opportunities, and the systemic knowledge that is required to understand these problems, so that holistic solutions can be developed. While scientists play a role in sharing knowledge, it is increasingly clear that though the maintenance of objectivity is necessary, it is equally important for them to be honest and open about the value judgments they have, so that trust, transparency and accountability can be built in the process of developing scientific output.
The pandemic has also highlighted the need for mutual understanding to be developed, and for knowledge to be translated into ways which can be readily accessible, which thus emphasizes the important of communication and coherent narratives.
RSPRC researcher Dr. Milan Chen pointed out: "In the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the science community plays a significant role in providing advice and best practices for policymakers. Researchers like us hence have the great responsibility to strengthen the information synergies to avoid fragmentation and misinterpretation. It is also critical to ensure the objectiveness of the provided information.”
Background to the 3rd Global Sustainability Strategy Forum
The forum was facilitated by Prof. Dr. Ilan Chabay, Head of Strategic Research Initiatives and Programmes, at the IASS, Dr. Joana Leitao, Scientific Head at the IASS, Prof. Dr. Dr. Ortwin Renn, Scientific Director at the IASS, and Prof. Dr. Sander van der Leeuw, Director at the Center for Biosocial Complex Systems, Arizona State University-Sante Fe Institute.
The 3rd Global Sustainability Strategy Forum is the final in a series of three forums held in 2019 and 2020. It aimed to bring together experts in sustainable development to brainstorm strategic solutions to address global sustainability challenges. Summary papers from previous sessions can be found on IASS's website. The forum was held online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A more in-depth summary of the third forum can also be found on IASS's website.