Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 10
Policy Is Policy and Science Is Science:
Shall the Twain Ever Meet?
Mathew Kurian and Reza Ardakanian
1 Introduction
The comparative advantage of the United Nations University (UNU) system lies in
its ability to design, execute and mainstream research outputs within the policy
domain. Given that the UNU is accountable to member states, there is a more than
obvious connection to the needs of member states in developing and emerging
economies. Sustainability is an important focus of the UNU system as the world
seeks to respond to global changes posed by increased economic activity. Three key
global changes that have been highlighted in recent international discussions relate
to demographic change, urbanization and climate change (Chap. 3 ) .
1. Economic development is making the differences in income and employment,
disaggregated by gender, age and ethnicity more stark especially in relation to
discussions pertaining to people
s access to environmental resources.
2. The process of urbanization is making the disparities between rural and urban
regions more stark while highlighting the inter-dependencies between them in
terms of energy and resource flows.
3. Increased frequency, intensity and duration of climate events such as floods and
droughts is making it imperative to devise mechanisms by which data on
temperature and rainfall can be harnessed to improve systems for forecasting,
monitoring and rapid response especially as they relate to public services such as
water supply, wastewater and irrigation.
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