Are we sure? Some thoughts about uncertainty treatment in integrated assessment

Publication

‘Are we sure?’ ‘Are we right?’ ‘Do we feel confident?’ These questions summarise the feeling of uncertainty that is always nagging at our conscience whenever a policy decision is going to be based on scientific models. A feeling that is not going away when mathematical whizzkids show you the statistical uncertainty margins of model results, because the feeling is only partly about the figures. The feeling is more about the things we didn’t look at, either because of time constraints, lack of data or lack of knowledge. Or the things we simply took for granted because most scientists think they are true.

Authors

Maas R

Specifications

Publication title
Are we sure? Some thoughts about uncertainty treatment in integrated assessment
Publication date
28 October 2003
Publication type
Publication
Magazine
In: Annual report 2002: science for policy. ASTA international and national abatement strategies for transboundary air pollution. Goteborg: Swedish Environmental Research Institute, 2003;8-11
Product number
91093