The Research Challenge: Annual Report 1996

ISBN-13: 9783642644689 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 195 str.

German Advisory Council on Global Change

Opis

Development and environment problems have reached such alarming proportions that the very survival of humanity is now subject to critical and unprecedented threats. In its latest report, the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) criticizes Germany's global change research community for its lack of international orientation, its bias towards individual disciplines and for its weaknesses in translating scientific results into a form readily accessible to policymakers. The Council identifies alternatives for restructuring the research landscape, focusing primarily on a new "Syndrome Approach" for global change research. By applying this tool, scientists can systematically describe and analyze the "diseases" afflicting the Earth System, and thus elaborate response options.

Spis treści

Summary.- A Introduction.- B Status of Global Change Research, Unexplored Issues.- 1 International Global Change Research Programs.- 1.1 World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).- 1.1.1 Organizational Structure of the WCRP.- 1.2 International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP).- 1.2.1 The IGBP Organizational Structure.- 1.2.2 Evaluation of IGBP from the International Perspective.- 1.3 The International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme (IHDP).- 1.4 The UNESCO “Man and the Biosphere” Program.- 1.4.1 Research Priorities and Goals.- 1.4.2 Organizational Structure and International Cooperation.- 2 Global Change Research Programs — An International Comparison.- 3 German Research on Global Change (Current Status, Evaluation, Scientific Issues).- 3.1 Climate and Atmosphere Research.- 3.1.1 Relevance of Climate and Atmosphere to Global Change.- 3.1.2 Climate Research.- 3.1.2.1 Major Contributions by German Climate Research.- 3.1.2.2 Integration of German Climate Research in International Programs.- 3.1.2.3 German Climate Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.1.3 Stratosphere Research.- 3.1.3.1 Major Contributions by German Stratosphere Researchers.- 3.1.3.2 Involvement in International Programs on the Part of German Stratosphere Research.- 3.1.3.3 German Stratosphere Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.1.4 Troposphere Research.- 3.1.4.1 Major Contributions by German Troposphere Researchers.- 3.1.4.2 Integration of German Troposphere Research in International Programs.- 3.1.4.3 German Troposphere Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.2 Hydrosphere Research.- 3.2.1 Relevance of the Hydrosphere to Global Change.- 3.2.2 Marine and Polar Research.- 3.2.2.1 Major Contributions by German Marine and Polar Researchers.- 3.2.2.2 Integration of German Marine and Polar Research in International Programs.- 3.2.2.3 German Marine and Polar Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.2.3 Freshwater Research.- 3.2.3.1 Major Contributions by German Freshwater Research.- 3.2.3.2 Integration of German Freshwater Research in International Programs.- 3.2.3.3 German Freshwater Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.3 Soil Research.- 3.3.1 Relevance of Soils to Global Change.- 3.3.2 Major Contributions by German Soil Researchers.- 3.3.3 Integration of German Soil Research in International Programs.- 3.3.4 German Soil Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.3.4.1 Scientific Issues.- 3.3.4.2 Structural Improvements Needed.- 3.4 Biodiversity Research.- 3.4.1 Relevance of Biodiversity to Global Change.- 3.4.2 Major Contributions by German Biodiversity Research.- 3.4.3 Integration of German Biodiversity Research in International Programs.- 3.4.4 German Biodiversity Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.4.4.1 Scientific Issues.- 3.4.4.2 Strategy for Future Biodiversity Research.- 3.4.4.3 Organization and Structure of Biodiversity Research.- 3.5 Population, Migration and Urbanization Research.- 3.5.1 Relevance of Population Size, Migration and Urbanization to Global Change.- 3.5.2 Major Contributions by German Research in the Field of Population, Migration and Urbanization.- 3.5.3 Integration of German Population, Migration and Urbanization Research in International Programs.- 3.5.4 German Research in the Field of Population, Migration and Urbanization — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.5.4.1 Urban-Rural Relations.- 3.5.4.2 The Individual’s Decision to Migrate.- 3.5.4.3 Food Security.- 3.5.4.4 The Informal Sector: Labor Market and Ensuring a Livelihood.- 3.5.4.5 The Informal Sector: Human Settlements Development.- 3.5.4.6 International Migration Flows.- 3.5.4.7 Megacities within the Global Network System.- 3.5.4.8 Education.- 3.5.4.9 The Social Position of Women.- 3.5.4.10 Health.- 3.5.4.11 Conference-Related Research.- 3.6 Economic Research.- 3.6.1 Relevance of the Economy for Global Change.- 3.6.2 Major Contributions by German Economic Research.- 3.6.3 Integration of German Economic Research in International Programs.- 3.6.4 German Economic Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.6.4.1 Scientific Issues.- 3.6.4.2 Economic Research in Specific Policy Fields.- 3.7 Research on Societal Organization.- 3.7.1 Relevance of Political Science and Law for Global Change.- 3.7.2 Major Contributions by German Political Scientists and International Lawyers.- 3.7.2.1 International Regimes as a Field of Research.- 3.7.2.2 Regional Foci of Research to Date.- 3.7.2.3 Approaches for the Analysis of Environmental Policy.- 3.7.2.4 Sustainable Development and the Common Concern of Humankind.- 3.7.3 Integration of German Political Scientists and Law Researchers in International Programs.- 3.7.4 German Research in the Field of Political Science — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.7.4.1 Research on Specific Environmental Problems.- 3.7.4.2 The Analysis of Political Processes.- 3.7.4.3 The Study of Institutions.- 3.7.4.4 Communications Research.- 3.7.4.5 Peace and Conflict Resolution Research.- 3.7.5 German Legal Science — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.7.5.1 Customary International Environmental Law.- 3.7.5.2 “Environmental Solidarity” as a Legal Principle.- 3.7.5.3 The Role of “Civil Society” in International Law.- 3.7.5.4 Legal Issues Regarding the Impacts of Climate Change.- 3.7.5.5 Basic Legal Principles Related to Trade Restrictions in International Environmental Policies.- 3.7.5.6 Institutional Foundations for Innovative Forms of Global Environmental Policy.- 3.7.5.7 Further Development of Decision-Making and Dispute-Settlement Procedures.- 3.8 Research on the Psychosocial Sphere.- 3.8.1 Relevance of the Human Sciences for Global Change.- 3.8.2 Major Contributions by German Human Science Researchers.- 3.8.2.1 Fundamental Aspects.- 3.8.2.2 Guiding Principles of Sustainable Development.- 3.8.2.3 Determinants of Human Behavior.- 3.8.3 Integration of German Human Science Research in International Programs.- 3.8.4 German Research in the Human Sciences — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.8.4.1 Scientific Issues.- 3.8.4.2 Structural Improvements Needed.- 3.9 Technological Research.- 3.9.1 Relevance of Technology for Global Change.- 3.9.2 Major Contributions by German Technological Research.- 3.9.3 Integration of German Technological Research in International Programs.- 3.9.4 German Technological Research — Research Needs Concerning Global Change.- 3.9.4.1 Climate Protection Technologies.- 3.9.4.2 Technologies for Protecting the Ozone Layer.- 3.9.4.3 Technologies Relating to Material Flows.- 3.9.4.4 The Technology-Economy Interface.- 3.9.4.5 Structural Improvements Needed.- 3.10 Summary: Current Status of Global Change Research in Germany.- C New Guidelines for Environmental Research.- 1 Overview of the New Guidelines.- 2 Horizontal Integration: The Syndrome Concept.- 2.1 The Systems Approach.- 2.1.1 The Global Network of Interrelations.- 2.1.2 Syndromes as Functional Patterns of Global Change.- 2.2 List of Global Change Syndromes.- 2.2 1 “Utilization” Syndromes.- 2.2 2 “Development” Syndromes.- 2.2.3 “Sink” Syndromes.- 2.3 Assignment of Core Problems of Global Changes to Syndromes.- 3. Relevance Criteria.- 4. Integration Principles.- 4.1 Analytical Integration Principles.- 4.2 Methodological Aspects.- 4.3 Organizational Aspects.- 4.4 Implementation Aspects.- 5 Syndrome Ranking.- 6 Designing a Syndrome-Based Research Structure: A Case Study on the Sahel Syndrome.- 6.1The Network of Interrelations for the Sahel Syndrome.- 6.2 Disposition to the Sahel Syndrome.- 6.3 Deriving Core Research Issues.- 6.3.1 Complex 1: Options for the Affected Population.- 6.3.2 Complex 2: Regional Climate Change.- 6.3.3 Complex 3: International Economic Conditions.- 6.4 Organizational Implications.- 7 Vertical Integration: Research on the Global Change Problem-Solving Process.- 7.1 Special Features of the Problem-Solving Process.- 7.2 Decision-Oriented Problem Analysis.- 7.3 Developing Guiding Principles and Research on Goals.- 7.4 Research on Global Environmental Institutions.- 7.5 Research on Instruments of Global Environmental Policy.- 7.6 Research on the Implementation of International Conventions.- 7.7 Decision Analysis and Risk Research.- 8. Research Organization.- 8.1 Requirements.- 8.2 From Multidisciplinary to Transdisciplinary Research.- 8.3 Organizational Implications.- 8.3.1 Make Better Use of Existing Instruments.- 8.3.2 Create New Instruments.- 8.4 Bridging the Gap Between Research and its Practical Applications.- D Summary of Recommendations.- 1 The Current Situation.- 2 Priority Tasks in the Various Sectors of Global Change Research.- 2.1 Climate and Atmosphere Research.- 2.2 Hydrosphere Research.- 2.3 Soil Research.- 2.4 Biodiversity Research.- 2.5 Population, Migration and Urbanization Research.- 2.6 Economics Research.- 2.7 Research on Societal Organization.- 2.8 Research on the Psychosocial Sphere.- 2.9 Technological Research.- 3 Designing Global Change Research on the Basis of the Syndrome Approach.- 4 Organizational Recommendations.- 4.1 Strengthen Existing Facilities and Utilize Approved Instruments.- 4.2 Create New Facilities.- 4.3 Coordinate the Promotion of Research.- 5 Prospects.- E References.- F Glossary.- G The German Advisory Council on Global Change.- H Index.

Blurb

Development and environment problems have reached such alarming proportions that the very survival of humanity is now subject to critical and unprecedented threats. So far, the scientific community has failed to deliver strategic responses adequate to this situation. Analyses produced by the separate disciplines are similarly inadequate due to the complexity of the problems involved and the intricate interlinkages between them. In its latest report, the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) criticizes Germany's global change research community for its lack of international orientation, its bias towards individual disciplines and for its weaknesses in translating scientific results into a form readily accessible to policymakers. The Council identifies alternatives for restructuring the research landscape, focusing primarily on a new "Syndrome Approach" for global change research. By applying this tool, scientists can systematically describe and analyze the "diseases" afflicting the Earth System, and thus elaborate response options. The 16 most important syndromess, or "clinical profilles" of Planet Earth have noww been identified.