Abstract:
Great claims are often made for environmental information, especially as a means of 'aiding decision-making'. With
scant evidence, environmental information is assumed to be useful as a means of improving the state of the environment.
In this paper we question this assumption and ask whether state of the environment reporting is useful, to whom, and in
what context?
Drawing on sociology of scientific knowledge and communication theory and practice we have examined how
Australia. State of the Environment 1996 has been used by government bureaucrats and politicians. Our research found
that Australia: State of the Environment 1996 was used to legitimate existing policies, but was not used in government
decision-making or in the creation of new environmental policy. Nevertheless, both those people involved in preparing
the report and the broader policy community continue to regard state of the environment reports as an inherently valuable
initiative. We weigh up the role of the report as a credible source against that of being a useful document and conclude that
environmental information will only be useful in environmental matters when it is reconceived as part of a complex
communication practice.
