Evidence syntheses

Formas analyse results from environmental research in order to help achieve the Swedish environmental objectives External link.. We compile research results in areas where the state of knowledge is disputed or insufficiently known, in order to provide answers to what the research as a whole says about a particular question. The reports we produce are called systematic evidence syntheses.

Decision support for municipalities and government agencies

Formas evidence syntheses act as a scientific decision support for municipalities, government agencies and other stakeholders that develop and decide on environmental policy instruments and measures. It is important that the evidence syntheses comes into use, therefore it is possible to suggest questions and areas to address.

Our process

In dialogue with stakeholders, we formulate a question that is relevant to people involved in achieving the Swedish environmental objectives. Next, we identify all relevant studies that help answer that question. Depending on the studies available, different types of evidence syntheses can be applied. We review each study in terms of quality. Finally, we compile the results of the studies into a single knowledge base. To ensure a high level of scientific excellence, we involve expert researchers in the work on each evidence synthesis. Read more about the process.

Current evidence syntheses

Formas evidence syntheses follow a rigorous scientific methodology that is systematic and transparent. The purpose is to provide as objective and accurate a response as possible to a specific question. Read about the published and ongoing evidence syntheses.

The Council for Evidence-Based Environmental Analysis

The Council for Evidence-Based Environmental Analysis is the governing body for our work with the systematic evidence syntheses. The Council decides which compilations of environmental research Formas is to carry out. The Council also establish the conclusions of each evidence synthesis.
Council members External link.

Updated:10 August 2020
Page manager: Erik Eriksson