Bridging science, policy and practice for sustainability: Towards a conceptual framework

• Published in: Environmental science & policy 2023-07, Vol.145, p.208-216
• Main Authors: Tambe, Sandeep, Ballal, Aabha, Tomar, Richa, Wyborn, Carina, DeFries, Ruth, Ganguly, Sunayana, Scarlett, Lynn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Co-production; environmental science; India; issues and policy; Multi-disciplinary; Power dynamics; Science-policy-practice interface; stakeholders; sustainability science and engineering; Tradeoffs; Wicked problem
• ISSN: 1462-9011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.04.007

Sustainability issues at the interface of science, policy and practice are complex and in an urgent need of sound interventions. Producing science without assessing the nature of the conservation challenge can result in science getting undervalued and even ignored. While several models have been developed, they do not provide a blueprint for action. Without adequate guidance, the approaches adopted by stakeholders may be out of touch with the nature of the problem and may result in suboptimal outcomes. What are the types of sustainability challenges in the place-based, knowledge-action interface and how to tackle them? To address this gap, we build on scholarly work, to classify sustainability challenges into four idealized categories: namely, knowledge gap, multifaceted, hegemonic alliance and wicked problem. Then by assimilating insights from sustainability science studies we show that it is possible to suggest a suitable approach to these problems. Using this framework, we analyze case studies from India and show how it can enhance the ability of actors to tackle real-life sustainability issues. The unique contribution of this paper lies in constructing a schematic process for diagnosis and intervention when confronted with complex sustainability challenges. Future studies can further test, expand and refine this framework to make it more comprehensive and practice-based. •Often stakeholders operating on the science, policy and practice interface (SPPI) have to tackle complex issues.•While SPPI models have been deliberated, what is lacking is a consolidation of the SPPI problems and approaches.•By building on existing scholarship we developed a conceptual framework to aid in diagnosis and intervention.•Using this frame, we analyse ten sustainability case studies from India and show the potential of this framework.•We opine that this conceptual framing can guide SPPI stakeholders to make their interventions more impactful.