Effective policy advice through sustainability research

In this project, the focus is on how to improve the ‘policy impact’ of sustainability research in Germany.

Research approach

The scientists are developing quality criteria for policy-relevant research. In addition they are devising concepts with which to improve the interfaces between researchers, research funding bodies and environmental policy.

Sustainability research in particular works towards solving the problems of the future. Germany has been especially successful in expanding the appropriate research capacity. Nonetheless, even excellent research results often fail to have any practical impact on environmental policy. This is largely due to the lack of generally accepted quality criteria to guide both researchers and research sponsors. On top of this, Germany is so far virtually devoid of institutionalised interfaces between science and politics. Such interfaces could effectively support the transfer of new knowledge as well as helping to convey political demands for utilisable research results.

Cooperation partners

• Dr. Florian Keil, kib, Berlin
• Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (IÖW)
• Forschungszentrum für Umweltpolitik der Freien Universität Berlin (FFU)

Client

The project “Effective policy advice through sustainability research” is commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA)

Publication

Policy Relevant Sustainability Research. Requirements Profiles for Research Funding Agencies, Researchers and Policymakers Regarding Improving and Ensuring Quality of Research - A Guide Download (pdf)