Restructuring Federal Climate Research to Meet the Challenges of Climate Change (2009) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 11-20
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The United States has been experiencing unusually hot days and nights, heavy downpours, severe droughts, and frequent fires in regions such as California (Karl et al., 2008)
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These disparities between projected and actual emissions underscore the large uncertainties inherent in projecting CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, particularly beyond a decade. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
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The public and private sectors are beginning to take actions to adapt to climate change and to mitigate future effects, from shifts toward renewable sources of energy by power companies to greenhouse reduction statutes and policies in California and other states to regional and international carbon trading and offset programs (e.g., Chicago Climate Exchange, European Union's Emission Trading Scheme; Rabe, 2004)
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A federal science program is needed to comprehend the nature and extent of the climate change threat, to quantify the magnitude of impacts, and to provide a data and knowledge foundation for identifying effective adaptation and mitigation options, with sufficient flexibility to respond to unforeseen problems. Despite these pressing requirements, however, the federal climate change research budget has shrunk from a peak of about $2.4 billion in the mid 1990s to $1.8 billion (in constant 2007 dollars)
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b Testimony of Thomas Fingar, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis and Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, on the National Intelligence Assessment, National Security Implications of Global Climate Change to 2030, June 25, 2008, http://media.npr.org/documents/2008/jun/warming_intelligence.pdf. c White House Memorandum on Arctic Region Policy, National Security Presidential Directive NSPD 66, January 9, 2009.
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to coordinate federallysponsored research "to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change."6 A new administration in 2001 ushered in the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) , which placed new emphasis on investigating uncertainties and expanded the USGCRP mandate to include research that could yield results within a few years, either by improving decision-making capabilities or by contributing to improved public understanding.
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needed to address the integrated scientificsocietal issues formed the basis for the committee's final list of priorities for a restructured climate change research program. The envisioned research program laid out in this report is ambitious and daunting, but so are the challenges posed by global warming and the potential strategic impacts on our nation.
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Science: Research aimed at discovering fundamental truths about nature, motivated by either intellectual curiosity or social aims • Natural science: Research on the behavior of the natural (physical-biogeochemical) climate system • Human dimensions: Research drawing on the social, economic, and behavioral sciences and covering human systems drivers of climate change, human systems impacts of climate change, and human systems responses to concerns about or observed effects of climate change • Integrated research: A multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary approach to a particular climate change issue that addresses physical, biological, and human dimensions research and their relationships, interactions, and feedbacks, as well as the research needed to support applications Stakeholders: Individuals or organizations that generate or use climate information and products, including research scientists; private companies, and nongovernmental organizations in the insurance, agriculture, energy, forestry, transportation, water resources, public health, and emergency response sectors; federal, state, and local government agencies; and policy makers ________ SOURCES: NRC (2004a, 2005b)
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report Evaluating Progress of the U.S. Climate Change
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These priorities were vetted at two stakeholder workshops by individuals listed in Appendix F, and the final ones were chosen by the committee. Chapter 3 discusses the current gaps, shifts in emphasis, and future priorities for a restructured climate research program, along with the organizational and resource implications for implementing them.
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