cc: Warrilow_David
date: Mon May 10 15:03:15 2004
from: Mike Hulme <m.hulme@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: FW: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
to: May.Akrawi@fco.gov.uk

   May,
   I will consult with colleagues in the Tyndall Centre to see if there are any formal UK
   studies done on this.  It is of course a huge topic.  For example, the way the public and
   policymakers receive and use information will be entirely different.  We have a PhD student
   at present looking at how citizens react to visual portrayals of climate change and whether
   it effects attitudes and behaviour.  There was also a Parliamentary Report in 2000 that
   looked at how the UK government received its scientific information on climate change which
   would be worth getting hold of.
   I will see if my colleagues come up with more examples.
   Mike
   At 22:39 07/05/2004 +0100, you wrote:

     Dear Prof. Hulme,

     I am the Science Attach at the British Consulate-General in Houston and met David
     Warrilow and colleagues from the Tyndall and Hadley centres, at the AAAS Climate Change
     workshop in Seattle (Feb 2004).

     David Warrilow referred me to you, in response to a email I had sent him. I wonder if
     you can help me with this.

     the main points of the email are:
     -------------------------------------------------

     I have a question from Dr. Vedlitz, head of science policy at the Bush school of public
     policy (Texas A&M) re: decision making over S&T issues (in response to an article I sent
     him on the PM's speech at the climate Group launch. I include a paragraph from his email
     (full text is below). I have bolded the sentence on climate change for emphasis:

     In our studies we are focusing on how the public and policy-makers receive and interpret
     scientific information on climate change and use it in their decision-making.  Our goal
     is to identify the types of scientific information that are more readily accepted and
     used, the processes through which science information moves through the policy process
     and conditions in scientific information that limit or restrict its utility to
     decision-making.

     ------------------------------------------------------------


     Kind regards,
     May
     May G. Akrawi, PhD
     Vice Consul, Science & Technology
     British Consulate-General, Houston
     Tel: +1 (713) 659 6275 (Ext. 2134)
     Fax: +1 (713) 659 7094
     Email: [1]may.akrawi@fco.gov.uk

     [2]www.uksciencetech.com

     -----Original Message-----
     From: Warrilow, David (GA) [[3]mailto:David.Warrilow@defra.gsi.gov.uk]
     Sent: 07 May 2004 04:12
     To: May Akrawi Houston -UBS
     Subject: RE: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
     May,

     Nice to hear from you again. Seems a long time since Seattle!

     On your Q we have not carried out any studies of the type described but  I believe there
     have been a number of academic studies related to this carried out in the UK. A good
     start would be to contact Tyndall Centre who have a social science strand in their work.
     I suggest you contact Mike Hulme, but do come back to me if you don't get any joy.
     Contact details below.

     Regards

     David






          -----Original Message-----
          From: May.Akrawi@fco.gov.uk [[4]mailto:May.Akrawi@fco.gov.uk]
          Sent: 06 May 2004 20:09
          To: Warrilow, David (GA)
          Subject: FW: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
          Dear David,
          it's been a while since we met in Seattle. it was a pleasure meeting you and
          attending the workshop. we've been promoting this to our regional contacts, along
          with Sir David's speech.

          I have a question from Dr. Vedlitz, head of science policy at the Bush school of
          public policy (Texas A&M) re: decision making over S&T issues (in response to an
          article I sent him on the PM's speech at the climate Group launch. I include a
          paragraph from his email (full text is below). I have bolded the sentence on climate
          change for emphasis:

          In our studies we are focusing on how the public and policy-makers receive and
          interpret scientific information on climate change and use it in their
          decision-making.  Our goal is to identify the types of scientific information that
          are more readily accepted and used, the processes through which science information
          moves through the policy process and conditions in scientific information that limit
          or restrict its utility to decision-making.

          Could you please help me in responding to Dr. Vedlitz?

          Many thanks,
          May
          May G. Akrawi, PhD
          Vice Consul, Science & Technology
          British Consulate-General, Houston
          Tel: +1 (713) 659 6275 (Ext. 2134)
          Fax: +1 (713) 659 7094
          Email: [5]may.akrawi@fco.gov.uk

          [6]www.uksciencetech.com
          -----Original Message-----
          From: Christian Turner Washi -Conf
          Sent: 28 April 2004 16:58
          To: May Akrawi Houston -UBS
          Cc: Hans Verolme Washi -Conf
          Subject: RE: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
          Best person for this on climate change is Dr David Warrilow, head of science in
          Defra's global atmosphere division.  He acts as the interface between science &
          policy and controls the climate change research budget. He is best contacted at
          [7]david.warrilow@defra.gsi.gov.uk

          On the more general question, you should direct him to the Office of Science &
          Technology website and discussion of how science is used in policy making.
          [8]http://www.ost.gov.uk/policy/advice/index.htm

          Christian
          -----Original Message-----
          From: May Akrawi Houston -UBS
          Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 5:25 PM
          To: Christian Turner Washi -Conf
          Cc: Hans Verolme Washi -Conf
          Subject: FW: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
          Christian,
          could you please help me with this question. Dr. Vedlitz is the head of science
          policy at Texas A&M's Bush School of public policy. One of the State university
          which produces reports to advise TX policy makers. would you know whom I should
          contact or where to look for the type of information he's asking for?

          Many thanks,

          May
          -----Original Message-----
          From: avedlitz@bushschool.tamu.edu [[9]mailto:avedlitz@bushschool.tamu.edu]
          Sent: 28 April 2004 16:25
          To: May Akrawi Houston -UBS
          Cc: lalston@bushschool.tamu.edu; elindquist@bushschool.tamu.edu;
          mrogers@bushschool.tamu.edu
          Subject: RE: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
          Hi, May.

          In our studies we are focusing on how the public and policy-makers receive and
          interpret scientific information on climate change and use it in their
          decision-making.  Our goal is to identify the types of scientific information that
          are more readily accepted and used, the processes through which science information
          moves through the policy process and conditions in scientific information that limit
          or restrict its utility to decision-making.

          It would be great to learn of UK colleagues doing work that relates to this focus,
          even if just a little.

          Thanks.

          Arnie


          -----Original Message-----
          From: May.Akrawi@fco.gov.uk [[10]mailto:May.Akrawi@fco.gov.uk]
          Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 4:14 PM
          To: avedlitz@bushschool.tamu.edu
          Cc: lalston@bushschool.tamu.edu; elindquist@bushschool.tamu.edu;
          mrogers@bushschool.tamu.edu
          Subject: RE: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
          Dear Arnie,
          it was a pleasure to see you in DC. sorry I had to rush off to catch the rest of my
          group. I look forward to renewing our contact and looking at the many ways we can
          work together on various policy issues.

          climate change is definitely an area where the UK is very active at the moment and I
          will be more than happy to dig up the right information and contacts for you and
          TAMU colleagues.

          Do you mind giving me a bit more information on the type of survey you're looking
          for? we have a lot on Policy and on the Science the technology side, both from
          governmental and academic sources. I would also recommend a quick look on our
          [11]www.uksciencetech.com  web site for the workshop our Washington team put
          together at AAAS, for a joint US-UK dialogue on climate change. it has PowerPoint
          presentations from key people and on the UK side, includes the Tyndall and Hadley
          centres, two of our key institutions working on these issues.

          we also spoke of a visit to TAMU and I hope we can organise that in the next few
          weeks. if there's a specific event to attend, it's always a plus. if not, I don't
          want to leave it too long.

          I look forward to hearing from you soon.

          Kind regards,

          May
          May G. Akrawi, PhD
          Vice Consul, Science & Technology
          British Consulate-General, Houston
          Tel: +1 (713) 659 6275 (Ext. 2134)
          Fax: +1 (713) 659 7094
          Email: [12]may.akrawi@fco.gov.uk
            [13]www.uksciencetech.com

          -----Original Message-----
          From: avedlitz@bushschool.tamu.edu [[14]mailto:avedlitz@bushschool.tamu.edu]
          Sent: 28 April 2004 16:10
          To: May Akrawi Houston -UBS
          Cc: lalston@bushschool.tamu.edu; elindquist@bushschool.tamu.edu;
          mrogers@bushschool.tamu.edu
          Subject: RE: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
          Hi, May.

          Thanks for sending this.  Good to see you in DC.  Sorry we didn't have more time to
          visit.

          We're doing some stuff on global climate change now and have been looking for
          colleagues in Europe who may have done national surveys of this in their country.
          Can you help us with some contacts in the UK?

          Arnie

          -----Original Message-----
          From: May.Akrawi@fco.gov.uk [[15]mailto:May.Akrawi@fco.gov.uk]
          Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 3:55 PM
          Subject: Tony Blair's speech at the launch of the Climate Group
          Dear Colleagues,
          The Climate Group, a new coalition of the world's leading reducers of greenhouse gas
          emissions, was officially launched on 27 April by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
          The event marks a significant moment in the effort to draw more businesses and
          governments into making the emissions reductions necessary to slow global climate
          change. The Climate Group has been founded to foster wider independent action on
          greenhouse gases, building on the experiences of a core of leading reducers
          worldwide.
          The Prime Minister's speech was followed by a panel discussion and series of
          presentations from a range of key business and policy representatives included:
          Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
          Professor Sir David King, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government; Sir John
          Bond, Group Chairman, HSBC; Jeffrey Swartz, President and CEO, Timberland;
          Jean-Francois Sautin, Managing Director, Lafarge Cement UK; Karen De Segundo, CEO
          Shell Renewables, Russell Horner, CEO NorskeCanada; Arnold Brandyberry, COO
          Connecticut Innovations; Anne Baker, Deputy Secretary, California EPA; and Nicky
          Gavron, Member of The London Assembly.
          The Prime Minister's Speech:  [16]http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page5716.asp
          The Climate Group: [17]http://www.theclimategroup.org/
          The Climate Group, a not-for-profit organisation leading a new coalition of the
          world's leading reducers of greenhouse gas emissions, was officially launched on 27
          April by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
          Membership: Membership of The Climate Group is open to all companies, NGOs and
          local, regional and national governments committed to adopting a leadership agenda
          on climate protection and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Group
          will actively seek out those organizations that fulfill these criteria. However, we
          operate an open door policy - any organisation may enquire about joining.
          ---------------------------------------------------
          Please let me know if you have any questions on this, or other Climate Change issues
          relating to the UK. You can also find the full text of Sir David King's speech on
          climate change (with PowerPoint slides), at AAAS in Seattle, on
          [18]www.uksciencetech.com .

          Kind regards,
          May
          May G. Akrawi, PhD
          Vice Consul, Science & Technology
          British Consulate-General, Houston
          Tel: +1 (713) 659 6275 (Ext. 2134)
          Fax: +1 (713) 659 7094
          Email: [19]may.akrawi@fco.gov.uk

            [20]www.uksciencetech.com
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