The role of science in decision making: does evidence‐based science drive environmental policy?

To guide environmental policy effectively, scientists face the difficult but crucial task of clearly communicating evidence‐based information to the public and to policy makers. Frequently, the solutions proposed by scientists are hindered by poor communication – including an excessive reliance on acronyms and jargon – as well as being confronted by vested interests, both perceived and real. Although environmental “problems” are typically discovered by scientists, it is the media that often plays the primary role in promoting public awareness of – and political action regarding – such problems. Here, acid rain is used as a case study to illustrate many of the challenges commonly associated with environmental problems, including the long delay between initial discovery and relevant policy making. Some simple, straightforward recommendations are provided for facilitating communication about environmental problems.