Human issues in environmental change overlooked

By Damon Shorter

The complex human context behind decisions affecting the environment is often overlooked by scientists modelling global change. However, to reach a balance with nature, researchers must understand the convoluted connections which link the environment to politics, economics and commerce, say two ANU researchers.

Drs Merrilyn Wasson and David Bennett coordinate the Australian Human Dimensions Program on Global Environmental Change, an umbrella organisation bringing together social scientists studying the human issues at the root of global change.

The program incorporates the work of numerous ANU researchers investigating issues such as the social impacts of forestry, Asian environmental history, climate change and ecological adaption, Aboriginal environmental practice, Thai water catchment modelling and environmental security in the Pacific.

"We see what we do as a compliment to current scientific research," Dr Wasson explained. "Most of the debate about global change has been driven by science up to this point, and yet the problems themselves are clearly caused by humans and the decisions humans make. Science has a necessary role to play in the debate, but basically it is the way people think about global change that is the critical factor."

Dr Wasson is a graduate of law and political science based at the Research School of Biological Sciences, and Dr Bennett is a philosopher and Director of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. Both are convinced social scientists have an important role to play in finding solutions to the problems of global change.

"Without looking at the moral, political, social and economic issues which drive environmental change you have no solutions to the problems," Dr Bennett said. "They are systemic problems and they need systemic solutions."

The Australian program is part of a larger international project sponsored by the International Social Science Council which aims to compliment scientific research in the field.

Dr Wasson hopes the program will address what she sees as a bias in international research towards problems affecting richer OECD nations.

"There is a massive over-emphasis on the economic concerns of the OECD, such as climate change, for instance, and less attention paid to other more immediate problems such as water availability and water quality. Water is the most immediate problem affecting both Asia and Australia," she said.

The group is hosting a conference scheduled for April next year titled: "Water security, climate variability and the human dimensions".