Understanding and applying principles of social cognition and decision making in adaptive environmental governance

Ecology and Society: a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability

DeCaro, Daniel¹ 

关键词: adaptive governance;    cognition;    cooperation;    environmental law;    legitimacy;    socialdecision making;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ES-09154-220133

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

Environmental governance systems are under greater pressure to adapt and to cope with increased social and ecological uncertainty from stressors like climate change. We review principles of social cognition and decision making that shape and constrain how environmental governance systems adapt. We focus primarily on the interplay between key decision makers in society and legal systems. We argue that adaptive governance must overcome three cooperative dilemmas to facilitate adaptation: (1) encouraging collaborative problem solving, (2) garnering social acceptance and commitment, and (3) cultivating a culture of trust and tolerance for change and uncertainty. However, to do so governance systems must cope with biases in people’s decision making that cloud their judgment and create conflict. These systems must also satisfy people’s fundamental needs for self-determination, fairness, and security, ensuring that changes to environmental governance are perceived as legitimate, trustworthy, and acceptable. We discuss the implications of these principles for common governance solutions (e.g., public participation, enforcement) and conclude with methodological recommendations. We outline how scholars can investigate the social cognitive principles involved in cases of adaptive governance.

【 授权许可】

Others