Recent interest in evidence-based policymaking has influenced policy systems in the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian countries, as well as policies on the European Union level. When implementing this concept, emphasis has been put, for instance, on organisations, tools, staff, incentives, and intermediaries.
The characteristics of and specific conditions of the science-policy interface debate for sustainable development have so far not been comprehensively compiled and discussed on the basis of practical cases. This special issue intends to fill that gap by representing innovative approaches to addressing the sustainability-related science-policy interface (SSPI). In so doing, the special issue covers a broad variety of policy issues, such as climate change, development cooperation, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Prior to introducing the individual contributions, the authors explore some principles and challenges of SSPI that mark the thematic framework of this special issue.