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Direct communication between climate scientists and politi- cians at the local, national, and global levels must be developed and encouraged. In addition, the scientifi c evaluation criteria must be reconsidered Processes involving continued dia- for scientists to fully and actively engage in matters of informing logue with stakeholders, as well as the establishment the general public and politicians about climate change. Scientists of integrated and interdisciplinary research, are time consum- should be given credit for engaging in the public debate and in the ing and such projects must, therefore, be allowed to run for an political processes, and not only be given credit for publishing in extended period of time. peer-reviewed literature. MECHANISMS FOR IMPROVING COMMUNICATION MECHANISMS FOR PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF RESEARCH The common, human endeavour is to fi nd a way of living within the Research with the potential to have a positive impact on society means of the planet. Everybody must see themselves as stake- too often ends up not being implemented and, therefore, has no holders in the research that seeks to understand the problems of impact in practice. For scientifi c projects where there is a poten- unsustainability and fi nding solutions. Scientists need to be visible tial danger for this situation to occur, there should be a mecha- and audible, and be encouraged to spend time giving knowledge nism to follow up on the project to promote its practical implemen- to stakeholders, policymakers, and the public. tation. Such implementation processes should be conducted in dialogue with stakeholders. To be benefi cial, good communication is a prerequisite for research in all areas. However, scientists may need support and appropriate EXPLORING DIFFERENT AVENUES training to be able to provide such good communication. Climate This is a time where innovation is needed and different avenues change has become a vehicle to carry forward the debate on a must be explored. Innovation generally takes trial and error and variety of aspects concerning global change and sustainability. efforts which do not immediately succeed. The funding agencies This tendency of overload weakens the debate and causes it to be will have to take some calculated risks to allow this aspect of the contradictory at times. It is important to ensure that climate change research to succeed. does not evolve from ‘an inconvenient truth’ into a convenient scapegoat for other human pressures. IMPACT STUDIES OF PREVIOUS EU RESEARCH PROGRAMMES There is a need for detailed evaluation of the impact of previous EU Direct communication between climate scientists and politicians research programmes on climate change to determine the effi cacy at the local, national, and global levels must be developed and of these in terms of policy and good practices. encouraged. In addition, the scientifi c evaluation criteria must be reconsidered for scientists to fully and actively engage in matters of informing the general public and politicians about climate change. Scientists should be given credit for engaging in the public debate and in the political processes, and not only be given credit for publish- ing in peer-reviewed literature. 72


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