The science and politics problem: Policymaking, climate change and hurricanes

Abstract

In February 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its Fourth Assessment Report that discussed the progress made in our understanding of the impact of natural and anthropogenic activities involving global warming and climate change. On the basis of this report, policy makers and citizens alike now have a scientific basis upon which to assess the problem of global climate change and should be encouraged to implement appropriate national and international actions in response to the warming of the planet. Given this background, this study will: 1) examine the science and politics problem as it relates to the subject of this book, 2) provide an overview of the scientific understanding of global warming, climate change and hurricanes, 3) focus on the political factors that influence environmental policy making with emphasis on the United States since it is a dominant global power and major producer of greenhouse gases, and 4) offer a framework that shows the conditions when science is more or less likely to have substantive input into the policy making process as it relates to global climate change. © 2009 Springer-Verlag US.