Earthwatch twenty-five years on - Between science and international environmental governance

The United Nations system is complex and its workings often seem muddled to the outside observer. The UN has struggled with this problem from its ince ption, sometimes successfully but often not Part of the difficulty lies in the increasing complexity of the issues being addressed internationally, in cluding "sustainable development" The expectations raised by such an all-en compassing term are hardly achievable in immediate terms. This lack of clar ity in the issues addressed through the UN is also reflected in its institu tional structures. The story of Earthwatch is just one example of how the UN has attempted to bring clarity into its system. In this case, the aim was to bring together the most up-to-date scientific knowledge and make it policy-relevant on an ongoing basis. What seemed a relatively straightforward goal has instead be en fraught with difficulties. In this article, I analyze these difficulties in terms of the relations between science and policymaking. Three distinct conceptual approaches have been taken to this relationship: the functional approach, the feeder-of-information approach, and the assessments-for-poli cy approach. Each has had a decisive influence on the practices of Earthwat ch. I conclude that the most recent approach offers the best alternative to realizing Earthwatch's goal. However, much work remains to be done. To thi s end I suggest that further research is needed.