Scientific Knowledge Use and Addressing Uncertainties About Climate Change T and Ecosystem Functioning in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt Estuaries ⁎ J.A
Environmental Science and Policy 90 (2018) 148–160 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Environmental Science and Policy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/envsci Scientific knowledge use and addressing uncertainties about climate change T and ecosystem functioning in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt estuaries ⁎ J.A. Veraarta, , J.E.M. Klostermanna, E.J.J. van Slobbeb, P. Kabatb,c a Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands b Water Systems and global change group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands c International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: This paper analyses how scientists, policy makers and water users engage with scientific knowledge and un- Uncertainties certainties during a lengthy and complex decision-making process (2000–2014) about water quality, freshwater Freshwater resources and climate adaptation in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt estuaries. The research zooms in on lake Volkerak- Climate change Zoom. Interviews confirm that ‘negotiated knowledge’, shaped by the agricultural sector, NGO’s andwater Knowledge managers can lead to strategies to improve water quality problems. One such a strategy, based on negotiated Adaptation knowledge, is to create an inlet to allow limited tides and inflow of saline waters in Lake Volkerak-Zoom. Problem framing Meanwhile, during negotiations, monitoring showed an autonomous decline in the annually returning algal blooms, leading to new uncertainties and disrupting the negotiations. At another negotiation arena, water users and policy makers repeatedly disputed scientific assessments about costs and benefits regarding additional freshwater supply for agriculture and the knowledge underlying proposed decisions was still considered un- certain in 2014.
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