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For the Flemish Department of Environment and the Research Institute for Nature and Forest, we have started an international benchmark of the knowledge function of environmental policy.
We are conducting a comparative study on the scientific support, monitoring, and policy evaluation of environmental policy in Flanders and surrounding regions and countries. This is done, among other reasons, to provide a strong scientific basis for effective biodiversity policy.
Focused monitoring, data integration, and assessment techniques are important for good policy preparation, evaluation, and adjustment. With this benchmark, we are mapping out both the administrative, financial, and organisational aspects.
Some of the research questions include:
- How is the knowledge function of environmental policy organised in Flanders and in the benchmark countries and regions?
- Which parties are involved and what roles do they play?
- How is research programming shaped?
- How much public funding is available annually for the knowledge function and how is it utilised?
- Which types of research are more/less dominant (external/internal, applied/scientific, public/private, etc.)?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the knowledge function in the environmental policy of Flanders compared to the benchmark countries and regions?
- What are the opportunities and threats?
- How could the effectiveness and efficiency of the knowledge function in environmental policy be improved?
