Assessments of Regional and Global Environmental Risks: Designing Processes for the Effective Use of Science in Decisionmaking.

• Position: Brief Article - Book Review

Edited by Alexander E. Farrell and Jill Jager. 1616 P Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-1400: RFF Press, June 2005. (202) 328-5086. www.rffpress.org. ISBN 1-933115-04-1. 288 pp. $70.00 Cloth. ISBN 1-93311505-X. $34.95 Paperback.

As environmental challenges grow larger in scale and the implications of environmental decisions more widespread, it is increasingly important to apply the best scientific knowledge in the decisionmaking process. Editors Farrell and Jager present environmental assessments as the bridge between the expert knowledge of scientists and engineers on the one hand, and decisionmakers on the other. When done well, assessments have a positive impact on public policy, the strategic decisions of private firms, and ultimately, the quality of life for many people.

This book is the result of an international, interdisciplinary research project to analyze past environmental assessments and understand how their design influenced their effectiveness in bringing scientific evidence and insight into the decisionmaking process. The case studies in the book feature a wide range of regional and global risks...