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Short abstract:

This paper explores the presenters' navigating of the intersection of academia and politics when advising the UK on its transition to Net Zero at IPPO. It analyses their marshalling of global evidence and reflects on the tensions and opportunities for knowledge brokers seeking to guide society.

Long abstract:

What kinds of institutions should act as brokers for complex transitions and what methods should they use? Can they guide not just policymakers but also civil society, business and others to help link generalised knowledge with diverse contexts?

The International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO) is an example of one institution trying to do just that, bringing together academics in public policy, STS and a range of social disciplines to assess and mobilize evidence to responsibly and proactively inform policymakers in four national governments (UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) as well as municipalities. Established during the pandemic to provide social science evidence for decision-makers on Covid-19, it now occupies a broader role in the policy ecosystem, seeking to reduce social harms by providing evidence about impactful interventions on big, strategic issues.

This paper sets out the presenting team’s experiences in helping the UK on its rocky journey in pursuit of Net Zero, while also drawing on their work with the European Union on ‘Whole of Government Innovation’ on for big societal transitions.

Using their work on organising society-wide conversations for the green transition, it unpacks the tension between the slow-shifting objectives of research funders and the fast-moving reality of British politics. It also provides insights on the prospects for translating an international evidence base into a specific domestic context. Reflecting on what scholarship tells us about ‘boundary’ institutions like IPPO, it argues for diversity by design in knowledge brokerage when seeking to guide or encourage broader societal change.