Recovery in the Acid Rain Story: Transparency and Credibility in Science-Based Environmental Regulation

Abstract

Over the last few years, we have witnessed several crises concerning expert knowledge and policy regulation. In response, a number of efforts have been undertaken with the explicit aim of restoring the credibility of expertise. One important example is the European Commission's project 'democratising expertise', in which transparency is considered of crucial importance for increasing credibility and superseding opaque technocratic decision-making. In this article, however, it is argued that transparency is not enough. Based on findings in the sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK), it is regarded as more important to understand how expert advice actually achieves its credibility. In a case study, the regulation of trans-boundary air pollution based on the concept of critical loads is analysed. Some experts argue that this story, usually assessed as a success, is characterized by technocratic decision-making and closed-room expertise. The scientists' opinion on their expert work in this field is compared to the EU initiative on transparency as well as the SSK understanding of credibility. The article concludes by proposing some recommendations on how to combine transparency with credibility, thereby achieving democratized expertise.