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1 Defining Research Needs
Pages 1-8

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From page 1...
... End-to-end assessments will require the integration of basic research on Earth System processes with that on environmental and socio-economic impacts and effects studies and research on mitigation and adaptation strategies and technolog~es. "Global change," in the context of USGCRP, is usually understood to include global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, and loss of global biological diversity; other environmental changes that take place systemically at the global level, or that have global effects cumulatively, are sometimes included.
From page 2...
... We identify a few areas in which, in our judgment, focused incremental research efforts have the potential to yield significant increases in knowledge in the relatively near term that will contribute to the goal of improved integrated assessment. We also recommend a process for developing science plans and implementation plans for the future development of research in these areas.
From page 3...
... The program expansion challenges the scientific community and the agencies that implement it to develop knowledge simultaneously in several major substantive and methodological areas that are new to the program. The challenge is increased by the fact that each of these new areas depends on knowledge about the human dimensions of global change, a relatively underdeveloped sector of the USGCRP.
From page 4...
... We have also considered other criteria, including the ability of new research to link to natural science research programs within the USGCRP and to international research activities. Judged against the need for knowledge, the human dimensions of global change is a drastically underfunded field within the USGCRP.
From page 5...
... We have recommended involving federal mission agencies in research on the human dimensions of global change, but have also pointed out that the obvious agencies do not always have the necessary expertise (National Research Council, 1992~. Priority areas will fare best if there is an agency or agencies to nurture them.
From page 6...
... The chapters that follow explain how each research area will contribute significantly to the government's ability to conduct integrated assessments of its policy options regarding global change. NEXT STEPS Although all of these topics (and others)
From page 7...
... Rather, this report identifies the areas in which science and implementation plans are most urgently needed, explains the need for focused research in those areas, outlines the substantive scope of each area and the likely gains in knowledge, and raises key issues to be addressed in developing the science and implementation plans. In the case of land use change, the committee proposes the following specific process to develop credible science and implementation plans covering research over a 5-10 year period: Step 1: The committee will establish a writing group to prepare a draft science plan dealing with land use change for consideration by the wider scientific community, funding agencies, and potential users of the research.
From page 8...
... At this juncture, we believe the second topic to go through this strategic planning process should be research on decision making and global change. At each stage, it will be important to provide opportunities for those representing the concerns of the science community, the funding community, and the policy-making community to consider adding new science priorities to the initial list and to reconsider the sequence in which these priorities go through the strategic planning process.


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