Book Description As environmental challenges grow larger in scale and implications, it is increasingly important to apply the best scientific knowledge in the decisionmaking process Editors Farrell and Jäger present environmental assessments as the bridge between the expert knowledge of scientists and engineers on the one hand and decisionmakers оещел on the other When done well, assessments have a positive impact on public policy, the strategic decisions of private firms, and, ultimately, the qualityof 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, including ozone depletion, transboundary air pollution, and climate change Assessments of Regional and Global Environmental Risks offers several important contributions It provides a clear account of the choices faced in the design of environmental assessments and a clear description of the lessons learned from past assessments It illustrates why assessments are social processes, not simply reports And, while they identify no universal, one-size-fits-all design, the authors find that, to be effective, environmental assessments must be viewed by those who produce and use them as being salient; credible in their scientific support; and legitimate, or fair, in design and execution.  В четвертый2005 г 288 стр ISBN 193311505X.