”Om ett träd bränns utan att någon räknar utsläppen…” En studie av relationen mellan vetenskap och beslutsfattande i EU:s ramverk för förnybar energi; REDII

Sammanfattning: This study examines the influence of scientific knowledge in rule-making processes aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. Specifically, the paper examines the case of regulation on forest biomass in the revised Renewable Energy Directive from 2018. Through the method of process-tracing, the paper seeks to explain the science-policy interface in the case. The so called “usual suspects” for explaining the relationship between science and policy outcome are identified as theories of captured regulation and path dependency, and these are tested against theories of common interest and evidence-based policy theory. The results show that aspects of captured regulation and path dependency, with addition of experienced scientific unclarity, can explain the science policy interface. Also, the mismatch between what best available science says, and what policy does, is shown to be substantial.