Page - 21 - in options, Volume summer 2016

www.iiasa.ac.at SHAPING AIR QUALITY POLICY The IIASA Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model explores the synergies and trade‑offs between control of air pollution and mitigation of greenhouse gases. GAINS is integral to both international and European policy on air quality. In  2013, for instance, the European Commission introduced a new clean air policy package based on GAINS scenarios. The new policies will have avoided 58,000 premature deaths, saved 123,000 km2 of land from nitrogen pollution, and protected 19,000 km2 of forest from acidification by 2030. MA To make the science–policy process work, one should remember that it is a long‑term process. Talking and listening are both equally important, but  building trust is crucial. Scientists often think they have the solution and they go and tell the policymakers: here  it  is. But in many cases they are not addressing the problems policymakers want to explore. You  need to listen and respond; it takes a long time to gain acceptance and credibility. IIASA is in a unique position to facilitate this dialogue because we are independent and neutral but we also have a network that spans many countries. Although this network is often referenced in terms of scientific advantage it is also vital for policy. Working in science–policy is more interesting than pure science, in my opinion. There are no exact recipes for success but my advice is: learn to put your scientific understanding in context. There might be compromises you didn’t know about. BOUNCING BACK FROM NATURAL DISASTERS Madagascar suffers an average of two tropical cyclones every three years, and in the wake of cyclone Gafilo, which killed at least 363  people, the  country sought assistance from IIASA. The institute used its Catastrophe Simulation (CATSIM) model, to support a major disaster risk management study by the government disaster agency which led to new policies to help reduce disaster impacts. In this way CATSIM provides countries around the world with sound guidance to help them bounce back after all kinds of natural disasters. SH The CATSIM workshops give scientists and policymakers a chance to meet face to face; we give them the model and teach them how to use and adapt  it. The goal is that they will take it and refine it to meet their own contexts and needs. Communicating your results is a key part of success. Although that might seem easy it  actually needs a lot of thought. What are the best ways of explaining risk, for instance, or probability? It is vital that we make these concepts clear. Our results might indicate that policymakers invest a lot of money in risk management, for instance, and they have every right to ask: Why am I spending money on this and not other priorities? As a scientist, you need to know the limits of your model. There are a lot of difficult decisions which cannot be evaluated in simple monetary terms. CATSIM is designed to be broad enough so policymakers can contribute their own ideas but concrete enough that they can make a meaningful decision based on all the information. Trust is also key, and neutral institutions like IIASA are very much needed to build this as  they can take a non‑profit oriented, purely scientific view. The most important quality for a scientist going into science–policy work is open‑mindedness; remember it’s a learning experience for you too. DB Further info www.iiasa.ac.at/tropics www.iiasa.ac.at/GAINS www.iiasa.ac.at/CATSIM Ping Yowargana yowargan@iiasa.ac.at Markus Amann amann@iiasa.ac.at Stefan  Hochrainer‑Stigler hochrain@iiasa.ac.at “You need to listen and respond; it takes a long time to gain acceptance and credibility” “Communicating your results is a key part of success” FALL 21summer 2016 + options