On the limitation of evidence-based policy: Regulatory narratives and land application of biosolids/sewage sludge in BC, Canada and Sweden

Autor: Sarah Mason-Renton, Gunilla Öberg
Rok vydání: 2018
Předmět:
Zdroj: Environmental Science & Policy. 84:88-96
ISSN: 1462-9011
Popis: Sewage management exhibits all characteristics of a ‘wicked’ problem: it is framed as a technical problem even though it is surrounded by scientific uncertainties, and the framing hides both value-frameworks and the unequal distribution of risks and benefits. In this study, we analyze how uncertainties and the limits of scientific knowledge are approached and communicated in two jurisdictions that presently are in the process of revising their regulatory frameworks pertaining to land application of the residuals remaining after sewage treatment: Sweden, which is governed by the EU Directive 86/278/EEG, and the Canadian province of British Columbia, which draws heavily on the US EPA503 Rule. We find that the two jurisdictions take very different approaches to uncertainty and ignorance: The BC framing rests on the presumption that no evidence of harm can be taken as evidence that the practice is safe and draws on a persuasive narrative to that end. In contrast, the Swedish narrative rests on the presumption that absence of evidence cannot be taken as evidence of absence and that it therefore is better to hark on the safe side, when it is technically possible. The BC framing is indicative of a classic risk assessment approach and public acceptance is addressed as a knowledge deficit problem. The pursuasive tone and lack of transparency appears to negatively impact residents' trust in regulatory agencies. The Swedish framework takes a more precautionary approach, combining risk assessment with hazard determination and uses a deliberative and transparent approach, seemingly producing more socially ‘robust’ knowledge. Even though Sweden pays considerable attention to the challenges involved in making assessments based on limited data, the limits of science-based knowledge is not touched upon. In fact, Sweden and BC signal a similar view on humanities' ability to create reliable knowldge: given sufficient time, it will eveutally be possible to close the knowledge gaps and develop reliable (technical) solutions. We argue that treating the problem as if it is a technical challenge at its heart hides social aspects and forward that the value-judgements that underlie hazard determinantions and risk assessments must be transparently identified and communicated, including the assessment of uncertainty and the limits of science, to avoid increased polarization and thus hardened conflicts.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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