To talk science to policy you need to speak normative.

Are you a scientist who wants to influence policy? Or are you a consultant charged with writing reports as a basis for policy decisions? If so, we need to talk about normatives. If we, as scientists, want our work to actually influence policy or help guide practical decisions, then normatives are essential. This article breaks down what they are, why they matter, and how we can put them to good use in our work.

So, What Are Normatives, Anyway?

Think of normatives as statements that say, “This is how things should be.” In scientific work, they’re especially useful because they let us communicate clear recommendations that are backed by data and aligned with societal values. Say you’re working on a study showing how important forest cover is for biodiversity. A normative might be, “If we want to maintain biodiversity, 33% of forests should be protected.” So it’s more than just data—it’s a value-driven statement with a goal.

What makes normatives actionable is the IS NOW vs SHOULD. To take the example above, of forest protection, a scientific report may state ” the current rate of deforestation, together with current level of protection presents a risk to preserving biodiversity.

To go a step further, a decision basis report could state “the current status of forest protection in Sweden is 8%”.

In relation to normative goals, forest protection = 8/33 or 24/100

This helps understand the gap between IS and SHOULD. In this case it is a shortfall of (100-24 )/100. = 76%.

Why Bother with Normatives?

They Make Our Work Actionable: Let’s be real—most policymakers don’t want to wade through raw data. They want to know what action to take. Normatives help us frame our findings in a way that says, “If you care about X, then status of Y should be Z. Options to get to Z include W ”. It’s specific, measurable, and directly related to policy.
They Go Beyond Dollars and Cents: Policy decisions are often based on economics, which isn’t always great at capturing things like ecosystem health or public wellbeing. If we can put together normatives that highlight these values—such as clean air, public health, or ecosystem stability—then we can ensure they’re part of the policy conversation instead of being overshadowed by GDP metrics.
They’re Built for Long-Term Thinking: Policy often has short-term goals, but things like climate change, biodiversity loss, and health equity require long-term thinking. Normatives help us establish targets that reflect those needs. For example, “If we want to avoid flooding in urban areas, then green space should make up at least 20% of cities.” That’s a goal with real implications for resilience and future planning.

How Do We Use Normatives in Our Work?

There’s a basic formula for crafting normatives that’s surprisingly simple but powerful: if [society values X], then [policy should target Y]. The current status is Z, which is a shortfall of (Y-Z *100/Y)%.

Engineers, economists and planners can take over the job of closing the gap.

Here’s how we can put this into practice:

Start with the Values: Think about the underlying values at play. Do we value biodiversity, social equity, or health resilience? Identify these first because they’ll drive the goals.
Tie In “Real Capital”: Real capital is a concept that pushes us to value natural, social, built, and human resources—everything that’s not directly measured in dollars but still crucial to well-being. Applying normatives to real capital lets us show the importance of resources without reducing everything to monetary terms.
Use Conditionals: Phrasing things conditionally helps make the link between values and actions obvious. Like, “If we want air quality that has minimum Health impact then emissions in urban areas shouldn’t exceed X level.” This makes the science behind the recommendation clear and provides a concrete target.
Make It Measurable: A good normative isn’t just vague language; it has a specific target that’s measurable. For instance, instead of saying, “Protect more green space,” say, “Ensure that green space makes up 30% of urban areas to prevent flooding.” Concrete targets make normatives practical for policy. And the size of the gap gives us an idea of the investment needed.

Normatives in Action: How They Look in Real Life

Imagine you’re looking at carbon dioxide emissions. Most of the transport system uses combustion engines with fossil fuel. You’ve got the data showing that a large percentage of emissions come from transport. Here’s where you can use a normative to make your findings actionable:

Normative Statement: “If we want to reduce the fossil carbon dioxide emissions from the Swedish Transport system by 2050, then all vehicles must run on renewable energy by that date. ”

Current status is 12%, so there is a gap of 82%

See how that works? Instead of just reporting that fossil fuel emissions is an issue, you’re providing a clear, value-driven target that policymakers can latch onto.

Why Do Normatives Work?

They’re Policy-Friendly: Normatives simplify scientific findings into goals policymakers can actually work with. Rather than just presenting complex data, you’re giving them a way to act on it.
They Put Accountability on the Table: With normatives, it’s clear who needs to take action and why, which can drive more focused discussions and policies.
They are Conditional not prescriptive. They state that IF something is a value goal, THEN the status should be at a certain level. This is not “activist scientists” telling policy that something is bad, rather offering a way to view how to realise policy.
They Encourage Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Normatives make science relatable across disciplines, opening the door to conversations with economists, social scientists, and policy experts who might otherwise overlook the environmental, technical or social aspects of an issue. For example, by identifying the Real Capital involved (in the case of the example above, the vehicle fleet) and the gap.

Wrapping It Up

Normatives give us a way to make our work count beyond the lab or research paper. They let us link our findings to real-world values and concrete actions, so policymakers can see the relevance of science in shaping society’s future. Plus, they let us champion sustainability, health, and resilience in ways that purely economic arguments just don’t capture.

So next time you’re wrapping up a study and thinking, “How can I make this actually matter to people in charge?” consider normatives. They might just be the bridge between the science we do and the world we want to create.