Policy paper

Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE): A strategic framework

Effective emergency management relies upon ministers having access to the best available advice in a timely fashion.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Documents

Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)

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Details

Effective emergency management and informed decision-making relies upon Ministers having access to the best available advice in a timely fashion. To ensure the full range of issues are considered advice needs to stem from a range of disciplines, including the scientific, technical, economic and legal. This guidance focuses on the coordination of scientific and technical advice to inform strategic UK cross-government decision making during the emergency response and recovery phases.
 
Both “Responding to emergencies, the UK central government approach response, and concept of operations” (CONOPS)  and the Emergency Response and Recovery (ERR) guidance provide an emergency management framework for the UK. This UK framework includes structures for coordinating scientific and technical advice during emergency response and recovery. At the UK level the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is responsible for coordinating and peer reviewing, as far as possible, scientific and technical advice to inform decision-making. At the local level Scientific and Technical Advisory Cells (STACs) provide advice to local Strategic Coordinating Groups (SCGs) and/or Recovery Coordinating Groups (RCGs) which respond to the local consequences and manage local recovery efforts.

Published 16 October 2012