Science for Policy – The Regulatory Process

This webinar describes the results of an in-depth study into the role that science played in the development of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) 2020, bu the Environmental Defence Society. The project undertook a national and international literature review, scrutinised the documents sitting behind the policy development process, and undertook in-depth interviews with 35 people directly involved in the process.

To further disseminate the results of the project, and seek feedback on recommendations on how science and Mātauranga Māori could be better supported to inform environmental policy development, EDS hosted this webinar (one of two).

Topics covered:
The regulatory direction: Considering the balance struck between competing considerations. Changes that would strengthen a science-informed approach, give greater effect to the principles of te Tiriti, and improve responsiveness to environmental imperatives (such as climate change).
Regulatory Impact Assessment and cost-benefit analysis: Dealing with uncertainty and risk, and their cost implications. Valuing environmental costs and benefits, and assessing the ‘public good’.
Agency roles and conflicting policy priorities: Policy is often developed by multiple agencies, applying different policy lenses. How does this affect the science inputs and how can we negotiate and integrate the tensions that exist between agencies, such as MfE and MPI?
Uncertainty and contested science: How do we reconcile conflicting science, test different sources, quality and bias of data, and build clear checks to ensure we use the best data and science?
The role of science in the process: What can we learn from the NPS-FM 2020 approach? What are the must-haves for a robust science-informed process?