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Table 6-2. Example of science-policy interface in SIDSScience informingpolicyPolicy informing research agenda and capacitydevelopment prioritiesSustainable development imperativesinforming new institutional structures /approachesTools/procedures/projects/researchScientific andcompliancecommittees of theIndian Ocean TunaCommissionCANARI’s “action learning group” gathered policymakers and other stakeholders to develop a GreenEconomy research agendaIntegration of local community councils to ensurebuy-in for sustainable development research in Gau(Fiji) and for solar light use in Dominican Republic’smountain communityJamaica’s NationalOcean Zone Councilmandates a marinegeology seat and amarine science seatImportance of fisheries to Eastern Caribbeaneconomies, society and environment led todevelopment of the Organisation of EasternCaribbean States’ Marine Research Strategy, theEastern Caribbean Marine Research Platform, theCode of Conduct for Marine Research and thecompendium of standards for marine data collectionto support sustainable ocean governanceMulti-disciplinary teams formed to study fishingcommunities in Pedro BankSome UNFCCC SIDSnational COPdelegations includelocal scientistsUMass research on SIDS implementation of globalenvironmental conventionsMoU signed between CARICOM Secretariat andSecretariat of the Pacific Community for joint workon health and culture.CreatingopportunitiesforinteractionMauritius “ResearchWeek” sharinguniversity researchwork with policymakersUWI “Research Opportunity Lounge” forgovernments and donors: leading to IDB fundedresearch on domestic violence and youth crimeJoint meeting of Ministers of Health and of Financein the Pacific to address NCD crisisSir Hilary Beckles,economic historianfrom Barbados,serves on ScientificAdvisory Board ofthe UN SGTraining in Caribbean region led to lasting capacity indata and statistics in Belize, Suriname and Jamaica.“Promoting Investment in Agrotourism,” ECLACseminar with Health, Culture, Agriculture, Tourismand Finance ministries from across CaribbeanSource: Author’s elaborationIdeally, the science-policy interface is a relationship thatmoves in two directions, so that scientific research informspolicymakers’ decisions and the policy needs and prioritiesof a country are one factor influencing the scientificcommunity’s decisions on the topics of researchundertaken (though not on the methods or results).A number of vivid examples of science-policy interfacewere gathered, either through formalized mechanisms orthrough exchanges among researchers, experts and policymakers (see Table 6-2). 524 As noted above, some of the casestudies illustrated the need for institutional change toaddress sustainable development imperatives.Box 6-10. Sustainable Sea Transport: Research to inform policy in the PacificIn recent years, the transport sector has been neglected in the search for reduced emissions in Pacific Islands Countries(PICs), in spite of the fact that transport accounts for at least 70 percent of fossil fuel use in the PICs. In 2013, USP and theInternational Union for the Conservation and Nature (IUCN) established the Oceania Centre for Sustainable Transport toresearch and develop alternative energy sea transport projects. The Centre is exploring the use of fleets of smallersustainable ships—solar, wind, and biofuel powered—to replace aging large vessel operations. The Centre is making theresearch available to governments in the region.Source: Policy brief based on Nuttall, P., Newell, A. Prasad, B. Veitayaki, J. and Holland, E. (2013) “A review of sustainablesea-transport for Oceania: Providing context for renewable energy shipping for the Pacific”. Marine Policy Vol. 43 (Jan 2014)283-287.119