The Matrix - CcSP COM24

The project The Matrix is an experiment to appoint a small, interdisciplinary reconnaissance group, to develop integral perspectives for societal action facing the effects of climate change. This miniature think tank has been given the assignment to examine and question the interfaces and linkages between climate science, economics, social sciences and environmental sciences on opportunities, barriers and solutions for the very complex climate issue. The project has been looking at both the adaptation and mitigation side of the spectrum.

All four domains of science have been tried to give a distinctive, to the outside world appealing face. Therefore, the choice was made to appoint 'intendents' who have a helicopter view over their domain, who have a warm interest in the climate issue and who are sufficiently generalist to see and construct connections with the other domains, and who have a desire to participate in interdisciplinary work. The latter seems an unnecessary addition but it is not. Interdisciplinary work is not necessarily appreciated in the world of science.

The four intendants* were asked to compose a "credential" for their domain: an essay in which the (in his view!) most important, most interesting, and most promising insights, theories and professional intuitions concerning the climate problem are described and typologized. The approach comes from the specific discipline, and because it is aimed at application, the focus is on policy, management and organization at regional, national and European levels. This fits well with the professional backgrounds of the intendant.

Products of the analysis phase: debates and publications
Based on the credentials we have identified five ‘issues’ that we wanted to discuss with a wider group. These issues were often at the interface between two or more domains. We have dedicated four debates on these issues in November 2009, where about forty-five different experts were present as guests. The highlighted issues were:

The ‘Maakbaarheid’ Revisited. The measures needed to effectively address climate change seem to ask again for a more vigorous action of the government. How is the trend of a withdrawing government, and the vanishing perspective of the ‘Maakbaarheid’ assessed in this perspective?

A better environment starts at the other. This evening, the dilemmas of social and geographical passing and the underlying processes were discussed in detail. While coöperation is the better strategy for mankind in the long term, short-term individual, institutional and national interests prevent that this strategy is followed. The question is how to escape from these social dilemmas of passing. In the debate, the question was explored from three perspectives: climate change as a complex issue, climate change as an economic issue, and climate change as an ethical issue.

Gaia Engineering. If in the coming years the reductions of greenhouse gas emis­sions are not fast enough, should we consider technological measures to cool the planet otherwise? And if we are afraid of the sorcerer’s apprentice effect, should we still allow research into the (effects of these) emergency cooling? And what exactly do we mean by Geo-Engineering?

A brilliant Surplace, our final evening, was about the translation of the research into actual policy measures. An impartial outsider can not help feeling that the huge effort from the science production is currently not translated proportion­ally into a similar leap in action, and that this translation can not be expected over time, either. It seems rather, that a wonderful surplace is being orchestrated between a highly productive research infrastructure and a hesitant buyer. Should researchers be more self-critical?

The debate evenings and the credentials have supplied the content to make five short articles for newspapers, in the run and aftermath of the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Much effort was put into the making of sharp narratives, to make them appealing for a broad audience. This lead to the actual publishing of these quite technical subjects in the saturated market of opinion articles.

Products of the analysis phase: perspectives of a sequel
The last part of the summary report, "Venster", combines a number of key observa­tions from the analysis phase of the Matrix. It discusses:

• we believe that the implications of the ‘wicked’ nature of the climate problem are insufficiently thought through
• the significant differences in behavioral perspectives at different ways of framing the climate problem. Three operational modes of framing are distin­guished: the framing as an environmental problem, an energy problem, and a footprint problem
• the exponential urbanization makes it clear that most global problems con­centrate in the urban regions of the world. The climate problem will not be resolved if the metropolitan problems remain unresolved
• a diagnosis of spatial planning in urbanized deltas where the city, agriculture, water and nature are viewed together
• a policy of decentralized and lateral control by the government is promoted. The suggestion is made that for a wicked problem as climate change, simple rules may sometimes be more effective than complicated systems
• In continuation of that, an important role is conferred to market forces, and the instrument of a carbon-added tax is introduced
• Finally, a unifying and overarching perspective for action is outlined in the quest for such a sophisticated, civilized and sustainable society in the Nether­lands (and Europe) that the wealth and prosperity it brings its own people, will have an economic export marketing value, and will be imitated internationally. Peaceful competition between cities and urban regions can be an important driving force

Download the project final report, the synthesis or look at the projects publications.

* The intendents and their essays (in Dutch):

• Sander de Bruyn, intendent Economics - Economische wetenschap en handelingsperspectieven: meer dan een energieheffing
• Albert Cath, intendent Social Sciences - Iedereen zijn eigen klimaatprobleem; Een essay over de sociale-culturele dimensie van het klimaatdebat
• Wim Hartman, intendent Spatial Planning (until October 2009, Wim’s premature death), Bram van de Klundert, (Superintendent until October 2009, thereafter) intendent Spatial Planning - Klimaat als ruimtelijke opgave
• Arthur Petersen, intendent Climate Science - Omgaan met onzekere klimaatverandering