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Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs:
"Therefore it is our intention to implement policies that will foster
these technology-based solutions -- that is the way we will address the
challenge of global climate change. Significantly, we also believe that
climate change should not be pursued in isolation, but should be handled
as an integral part of a broad strategic paradigm of sustainable
development, which features a balanced mix of environmentally sound,
pro-economic growth policies. At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg and at the COP-8 meeting last year in New
Delhi, we found strong and growing support for this position among
developing countries." (64KB PDF file)
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that
atmospheric concentrations of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, have begun
to level out after two centuries of increases. Methane levels have been
constant for four years now, but scientists are not certain why the steady
increases of the gas in the atmosphere since the dawn of the industrial
age have stopped. One theory is that a decrease in fossil fuel production
in the former Soviet Union may account for the decline. About 70 percent
of methane emissions are connected with human activities -- the burning of
fossil fuels, intestinal gas from livestock and farm animals, and the
cultivation of rice paddies. (14KB PDF file)
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New research from NASA scientists suggests emissions of black soot alter
the way sunlight reflects off snow. According to a computer simulation,
black soot may be responsible for 25 percent of observed global warming
over the past century. (78KB PDF file)
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In February 2002, the President committed the United States to a national
goal to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the American economy by 18
percent over the next 10 years. Meeting this commitment is predicted to
prevent more than 500 million metric tons of carbon-equivalent emissions
through 2012. Included in the President's announcement were directives to
his cabinet to implement a broad range of domestic and international
actions. These actions are underway and are outlined in the fact sheet.
(26KB PDF file)
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Increased UV-B through stratospheric ozone depletion leads to an increased
chemical activity in the lower atmosphere (the troposphere). The effect of
stratospheric ozone depletion on tropospheric ozone is small (though
significant) compared to the ozone generated anthropogenically in areas
already experiencing air pollution. Modeling and experimental studies
suggest that the impacts of stratospheric ozone depletion on tropospheric
ozone are different at different altitudes and for different chemical
regimes. As a result the increase in ozone due to stratospheric ozone
depletion may be greater in polluted regions. Attributable effects on
concentrations are expected only in regions where local emissions make
minor contributions. The vertical distribution of NOX (NO + NO2), the
emission of volatile organic compounds and the abundance of water vapor,
are important influencing factors. The long-term nature of stratospheric
ozone depletion means that even a small increase in tropospheric ozone
concentration can have a significant impact on human health and the
environment. (209 KB PDF file)
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Remarks by Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham: "The United States is
today in the process of implementing and enacting President Bush's
far-reaching national energy policy – a policy that will help guarantee
our nation's energy security by ensuring supplies of dependable,
affordable and environmentally sound energy for the future..." (38KB PDF
file)
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To advance and bring focus to short term objectives of climate change
science, the Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) was created by the
President in 2002. The budget proposed $40 million for CCRI in 2003, and
in 2004 this is increased by 355 percent to $182 million. The CCRI
investment will develop resources to support policy making, provide
computer resources for climate modeling for decision support studies, and
enhance observations and data management for a climate observing system.
(271KB PDF file)
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This U.S. National Research Council report provides policy makers with a
succinct and balanced overview of what science can currently say about the
potential for future climate change, while outlining the uncertainties
that remain in our scientific knowledge. (308KB PDF file)
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Congressional debate regarding the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 to
provide for a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to
accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States
by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable
allowances that could be used interchangeably with passenger vehicle fuel
economy standard credits, to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United
States and reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to
consumers from the trading in such allowances. (208KB PDF file)
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Congressional debate regarding the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 to
provide for a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to
accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States
by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable
allowances that could be used interchangeably with passenger vehicle fuel
economy standard credits, to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United
States and reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to
consumers from the trading in such allowances. (216KB PDF file)
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Climate VISION directly responds to President Bush's announcement made
nearly one year ago, Feb. 14, 2002, to address the long-term challenge of
global climate change. As part of this strategy, he committed to reducing
America's greenhouse gas intensity - the ratio of emissions to economic
output - by 18 percent during the next decade, and challenged American
businesses and industries to undertake broader efforts to help meet that
goal. Climate VISION is part of the global climate change strategy to work
with energy partners to meet the President's greenhouse gas intensity
goals. Climate VISION represents a beginning to seek greater reductions
and the participation of other industry sectors going forward. (20KB PDF
file)
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This annual report is prepared by the US Department of Energy / Energy
Information Administration's Office of Integrated Analysis and
Forecasting, pursuant to requirements under Section 1605(a) of the Energy
Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT). Section 1605(a) of EPACT requires that the EIA,
"shall develop, based on data available to, and obtained by the Energy
Information Administration, an inventory of national aggregate emissions
of each greenhouse gas for each calendar year of the baseline period of
1987 through 1990. The Administrator of the Energy Information
Administration shall annually update and analyze such inventory using
available data." The first report in this series, "Emissions of Greenhouse
Gases 1985-1990," was published in September 1993. This report-the ninth
annual report, as required by law, presents the Energy Information
Administrations' latest estimates of emissions of carbon dioxide, methane,
nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases. (77KB PDF file)
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Pursuant to Article 6 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete
the Ozone Layer under the Auspices of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel reported that
ozone depletion, which caused increased surface ultraviolet-B (UV-B)
radiation, consequently affected living organisms and also materials. New
studies had confirmed and strengthened previous findings that UV-B
radiation had serious adverse effects on the skin, eyes and immune system.
Also, interactions between ozone depletion and climate change had
environmental consequences, and the Panel had warned that ultraviolet
damage to phytoplankton and other marine organisms might reduce the
oceans' capacity as a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide and so increase
global warming. (45KB PDF file)
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Global warming effects seen in animal and plant worlds. Strongest evidence
of global warming provided in new research study. Study finds adjustments
in habitats and breeding behaviors. (19KB PDF file)
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The integrated sequestration and hydrogen research initiative is a $1
billion government/industry partnership to design, build and operate a
nearly emission-free, coal-fired electric and hydrogen production plant.
The 275-megawatt prototype plant will serve as a large-scale engineering
laboratory for testing new clean power, carbon capture, and
coal-to-hydrogen technologies. (392KB PDF file)
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This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report briefly reviews the
status of climate science, international negotiations, and congressional
activity focused specifically on climate change. It does not attempt to
include the wide range of energy issues also relevant to climate change.
These are covered in other CRS reports on energy efficiency, renewable
energy, and energy generally. (92KB PDF file)
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International representatives will gather in New Delhi November 10-13 for
the Climate Technology Bazaar and workshops on how to anticipate or adjust
to climate change. According to a media note released by the U.S. State
Department November 5, Harlan L. Watson, the State Department's senior
climate negotiator, will lead the U.S. delegation to the bazaar, which
will gather 120 national and international exhibitors of "state of the
art" climate-friendly technologies, and about 5,000 visitors. (40KB PDF
file)
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This legislation aims to cap greenhouse gas emissions and use market
forces to ease global warming. (17KB PDF file)
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A
report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on
Global Change Research as a supplement to the President's FY 2003 budget.
(1.7MB PDF file)
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To help foster a continued interaction, this component of the "Scientific
Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2002" presents 20 questions and answers
about the often complex science of ozone depletion. The questions address
the nature of atmospheric ozone, the chemicals that cause ozone depletion,
how global and polar ozone depletion occur, and what could lie ahead for
the ozone layer. The answers are based on the information presented in the
2002 and earlier Assessment reports. These reports and the answers
provided here were all prepared and reviewed by a large international
group of scientists. (2.1MB PDF file)
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Arizona senator's op-ed article in The Wall Street Journal: This column by
John McCain, Republican senator from Arizona and chairman of the Senate's
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, was published in The Wall
Street Journal October 30 and is in the public domain. (16KB PDF file)
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Greater heat, more hurricanes stir 2003 weather. NOAA reports 2003 was
marked by contrasting conditions across the United States while global
temperatures remain high. (18KB PDF file)
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As part of the President's National Climate Change Technology Initiative,
launched on June 11, 2001, the President directed the Secretary of Energy,
in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency, to lead a multi-agency review of the
Federal R&D portfolio and make recommendations. The Climate Change
Technology Program (CCTP) was established in 2002 to implement the
President's Initiative. The CCTP is a multi-agency research and
development (R&D) coordination activity, organized under the auspices of
the Cabinet-level Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology
Integration (CCCSTI). Participating Federal agencies include the
Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Health and Human
Services, Interior, State, and Transportation, as well as the
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and the National Science Foundation. (56KB PDF file)
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A
new study says that trade wind dust transported from West Africa can have
significant implications for climate, atmospheric quality and public
health in the Caribbean and the southeastern United States. A November 7
press release says results of the study, reported by researchers of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and published in
the November 7 issue of the journal Science, show that trade wind dust
transported from West Africa to Barbados in the eastern Caribbean is
strongly linked to rainfall patterns in West Africa. The study says
decreased rainfall in Africa results in a sharp increase in dust
transported across the Atlantic the following year. (16KB PDF file)
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The ninth Conference of the Parties (COP-9) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the nineteenth
sessions of the COP's Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological
Advice (SBSTA) and Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) were held at
the Fiera Milan Congress Center in Milan, Italy, from 1-12 December 2003.
(388KB PDF file)
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Based on research to date, we can state some expectations about
terrestrial ecosystem response as several elements of global climate
change develop in coming decades. Higher plant species will vary
considerably in their response to elevated UV-B radiation, but the most
common general e.ects are reductions in height of plants, decreased shoot
mass if ozone reduction is severe, increased quantities of some phenolics
in plant tissues and, perhaps, reductions in foliage area. In some cases,
the common growth responses may be lessened by increasing CO2
concentrations. However, changes in chemistry of plant tissues will
generally not be reversed by elevated CO2. Among other things, changes in
plant tissue chemistry induced by enhanced UV-B may reduce consumption of
plant tissues by insects and other herbivores, although occasionally
consumption may be increased. Pathogen attack on plants may be increased
or decreased as a consequence of elevated UV-B, in combination with other
climatic changes. This may be a.ected both by alterations in plant
chemistry and direct damage to some pathogens. Water limitation may
decrease the sensitivity of some agricultural plants to UV-B, but for
vegetation in other habitats, this may not apply. With global warming, the
repair of some types of UV damage may be improved, but several other
interactions between warming and enhanced UV-B may occur. For example,
even though warming may lead to fewer killing frosts, with enhanced UV-B
and elevated CO2 levels, some plant species may have increased sensitivity
to frost damage. (230KB PDF file)
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Dr. Mahoney appeared before the US Senate Commerce Committee in his
capacity as Director of the US Climate Change Science Program. He
presented testimony on the Administration's November 2002 "Discussion
Draft Strategic Plan" for federal research on climate change, and on the
workshop on the draft plan held in Washington, DC, on 3-5 December 2002.
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The Bush Administration has delivered on the President's commitment with a
comprehensive, innovative program of domestic and international
initiatives -- September 2003 update. (30KB pdf file)
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Two years have elapsed since the publication of the most recent reports by
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National
Research Council (NRC) on the state of the science of climate change and
its impacts on the United States and the rest of the world. As scientists
engaged in research on these subjects, we are writing to confirm that the
main findings of these documents continue to represent the consensus
opinion of the scientific community. Indeed, these findings have been
reinforced rather than weakened by research reported since the documents
were released. (1.2MB PDF file)
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September 30, 2003: The Bush Administration has delivered on the
President's commitment with a comprehensive, innovative program of
domestic and international initiatives. "I've asked my advisors to
consider approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including those
that tap the power of markets, help realize the promise of technology and
ensure the widest-possible global participation...our actions should be
measured as we learn more from science and build on it. Our approach must
be flexible to adjust to new information and take advantage of new
technology. We must always act to ensure continued economic growth and
prosperity for our citizens and for citizens throughout the world." (64KB
PDF file)
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U.S. firms are creating trading programs to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. A growing number of U.S. corporations and states are taking
actions aimed at sharply reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases that trap heat within the Earth's atmosphere. (19KB PDF
file)
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A
February 12 Department of Energy fact sheet lists the initiatives being
undertaken by major business and industrial sectors of the U.S. economy to
meet President Bush's challenge to reduce America's greenhouse gas
intensity by 18 percent over the next decade. (23KB PDF file)
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U.S. officials say plans are moving forward to create a system that links
thousands of satellites, aircraft and Earth-based monitoring stations
around the globe to provide more accurate predictions of climate change,
crop production, disease outbreaks and natural hazards. (33KB PDF file)
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U.S. officials have announced a public-private effort to construct a
prototype electric and hydrogen production plant and the formation of a
new international forum to advance carbon capture and storage technologies
as ways to reduce the world's heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions.
(18KB PDF file)
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Harlan Watson, the U.S. senior climate negotiator and special
representative, praised India for its cooperation with the United States
in advancing the science and technology of climate change. "Our bilateral
partnership with India is particularly important because it allows us to
share experiences and knowledge to advance climate change science and
technology," Watson said in a conference on U.S.-India Cooperation on
Climate Change in New Delhi November 11. (34KB PDF file)
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U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham says the United States is moving
ahead in an unprecedented international effort to make clean energy the
cornerstone of economic growth, improved health and closer ties among
nations. (47KB PDF file)
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An official multi-agency U.S. delegation in China released a statement
January 16 announcing that the United States and Chinese governments have
agreed to cooperate on a broad range of climate change science and
technology activities. According to the statement issued by the U.S. side
of the U.S.-China Working Group on Climate Change, the two countries have
identified 10 areas for cooperative research and analysis: non-CO2 gases,
adaptation strategies, economic/environmental modeling, integrated
assessment of potential consequences of climate change, hydrogen and fuel
cell technology, carbon capture and sequestration,
observation/measurement, institutional partnerships, energy/environment
project follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD),
and existing clean energy protocols/annexes. (26KB PDF file)
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On
20 March 2003, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) Godwin O.P. Obasi said all nations need to work together to prevent
and mitigate the adverse impact of climate-related events, such as floods,
droughts and tropical cyclones. (18KB PDF file)
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The United States and European Union identified cooperative research
activities in the six areas at the first bilateral ¿U.S.-EU Joint Meeting
on Climate Change Science and Technology Research¿ held in Washington on
February 5-6, 2003: (1) carbon cycle research; (2) aerosol -climate
interactions; (3) feedbacks, water vapor and thermohaline circulation; (4)
integrated observation systems and data; (5) carbon capture and storage;
and (6) hydrogen technology and infrastructure. Other non-greenhouse gas
emitting energy sources (e.g., nuclear energy, renewable energies),
although not discussed in detail, were mentioned as worthy for cooperation
in future discussions. (63KB PDF file)
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The U.S. Department of State has released a summary of the U.S. policy on
climate change first announced by the Bush administration in February
2002. The document is issued as U.S. experts joined counterparts from
around the world October 23 to convene the annual meeting on the U.N.
Framework Convention on Climate Change in New Delhi.
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The United States strategy will set America on a path to slow the growth
of greenhouse gas emissions, and -- as the science justifies -- to stop,
and then reverse that growth. (63KB PDF file)
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The United States is helping finance a project in conjunction with the
World Bank's Global Environment Facility (GEF) to counter the destructive
effects of global warming in the Caribbean. The "Mainstreaming Adaptation
to Climate Change Project" will benefit 12 small island and low-lying
countries in the region, the Bank said in an April 18 statement. Those
countries are: Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,
Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the
Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. (14KB PDF file)
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Six specific activities have been identified for the initial phase of the
CAP. These projects build on existing collaboration and extend it into new
and high priority areas. Each of the selected areas of activity is
intended to benefit from joint application of U.S. and Australian
expertise, sharing of technology developments and Australia's proximity to
key geographic regions in the climate system, such as Antarctica and the
Indian and Southern oceans. The cooperation envisaged aims to reduce key
uncertainties and improve the capacity of climate change science to inform
the policy making process. (38KB PDF file)
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The Annual Energy Outlook 2002 presents midterm forecasts of energy
supply, demand, and prices through 2020 prepared by the DOE Energy
Information Administration (EIA). The projections are based on results
from EIA¿s National Energy Modeling System. (2.4MB PDF file)
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Aquatic ecosystems are a key component of the Earth's biosphere. A large
number of studies document substantial impact of solar UV radiation on
individual species, yet considerable uncertainty remains with respect to
assessing impacts on ecosystems. Several studies indicate that the impact
of increased UV radiation appears relatively low when considering overall
ecosystem response, while, in contrast, effects on individual species show
considerable responses. Ecosystem response to climate variability
incorporates both synergistic and antagonistic processes with respect to
UV-related effects, significantly complicating understanding and
prediction at the ecosystem level. The impact of climate variability on
UV-related e.ects often becomes manifest via indirect effects such as
reduction in sea ice, changes in water column bio-optical characteristics,
changes in cloud cover and shifts in oceanographic biogeochemical
provinces. (237KB PDF file)
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John F. Turner, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs, discusses six important
international agreements that have been submitted to the US Senate for
Advice and Consent - the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and
Wildlife (SPAW) to the Convention for the Protection and Development of
the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena
Convention), or the "SPAW Protocol;" the South Pacific Regional
Environment Program (SPREP) Agreement; the Niue Boundary Treaty; an
amendment to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; and two
amendments to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer, the "Montreal Amendment" and the "Beijing Amendment." (83KB PDF
file)
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Since publication of the 1998 UNEP Assessment, there has been continued
rapid expansion of the literature on UV-B radiation. Many measurements
have demonstrated the inverse relationship between column ozone amount and
UV radiation, and in a few cases long-term increases due to ozone
decreases have been identi.ed. The quantity, quality and availability of
ground-based UV measurements relevant to assessing the environmental
impacts of ozone changes continue to improve. Recent studies have
contributed to delineating regional and temporal differences due to
aerosols, clouds, and ozone. Improvements in radiative transfer modelling
capability now enable more accurate characterization of clouds,
snow-cover, and topographical effects. (510KB PDFD file)
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The governments of the United States and Australia announced an agreement
to establish a Climate Action Partnership. The agreement was reached
following meetings on climate change held in Washington this week between
Dr. David Kemp, Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, and
several senior members of the U.S. Administration. (26KB PDF file)
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no
description available
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no
description available
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Third National Communication of the United States of America Under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Selected Technology
Transfer Activities and U.S. Direct Financial Contributions and Commercial
Sales Related to Implementation of the UNFCCC.
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Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions: This National
Research Council study originated from a May 11, 2001, White House request
to help inform the Administration's review of U.S. climate change policy.
In particular, the written request asked for the National Academies'
'assistance in identifying the areas in the science of climate change
where there are the greatest certainties and uncertainties,' and 'views on
whether there are any substantive differences between the IPCC
[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] Reports and the IPCC
summaries.' In addition, based on discussions with the Administration, a
number of specific questions were incorporated into the statement of task
for the study.
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Third National Communication of the United States of America Under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In this U.S.
Climate Action Report, the United States provides its third formal
national communication under the Framework Convention, as envisioned under
Articles 4 and 12 of the Convention. They describe its national
circumstances, identify existing and planned policies and measures,
indicate future trends in greenhouse gas emissions, outline expected
impacts and adaptation measures, and provide information on financial
resources, technology transfer, research, and systematic observations.
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Chapter 1 of the US Climate Action Report 2002 summarizes the main
elements of the report. In this report, the United States provides its
third formal national communication under the Framework Convention, as
envisioned under Articles 4 and 12 of the Convention. The report describes
the national circumstances, identifies existing and planned policies and
measures, indicates future trends in greenhouse gas emissions, outlines
expected impacts and adaptation measures, and provides information on
financial resources, technology transfer, research, and systematic
observations.
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Chapter 2 of the US Climate Action Report 2002 presents a snapshot of the
national characteristics of the United States that play a role in climate
change, including the country's climate, geography, economy, demographic
trends, energy production and consumption, and natural resources.
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Chapter 3 of the US Climate Action Report 2002 provides a broad overview
of all U.S. greenhouse gas emission sources and sinks, introduces key
concepts, and discusses the primary drivers for the growth in emissions.
All material in the chapter is drawn from the U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse
Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-1999.
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Chapter 4 of the US Climate Action Report 2002 reviews national policies
to limit emissions and enhance sinks of greenhouse gases undertaken since
1990.
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Chapter 5 of the US Climate Action Report 2002 quantifies the aggregate
effects on greenhouse gas emissions of policies and measures implemented
or planned from 1990 to 2020.
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Third National Communication of the United States of America Under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Chapter 6 provides
an overview of potential negative and positive impacts and possible
response options, based primarily on Climate Change Impacts on the United
States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change (NAST
2000). This assessment used historical records, model simulations, and
sensitivity analyses to explore our potential vulnerability to climate
change and highlighted gaps in our knowledge.
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Chapter 7 of the US Climate Action Report 2002 reviews U.S. efforts with
other countries to assist with mitigation and sequestration strategies,
build human and institutional capacity to address climate change, and
facilitate the commercial transfer of technology.
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Third National Communication of the United States of America Under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The United States
leads the world in research on climate and other global environmental
changes, funding approximately half of the world's climate change research
expenditures. We intend to continue funding research in order to ensure
vigorous, ongoing programs aimed at narrowing the uncertainties in our
knowledge of climate change. These research programs will help advance the
understanding of climate change. The President's major new initiatives
directed at addressing climate change are informed by a wealth of input
and are intended to result in significant improvements in climate
modeling, observation, and research efforts. The long-term vision embraced
by the new initiatives is to help government, the private sector, and
communities make informed management decisions regarding climate change in
light of persistent uncertainties.
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Chapter 9 of the US Climate Action Report 2002 addresses programs to
educate and train students and citizens in areas related to climate change
and reviews U.S. outreach activities to disseminate information about
global climate change.
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no
description available
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The governments of the United States and Canada announced an agreement to
expand and intensify their existing bilateral efforts to address global
climate change. This initiative involves many U.S. agencies and Canadian
departments and agencies which are already actively engaged in this issue.
(25KB PDF file)
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Opening Statement of James R. Mahoney Before the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Nominated to be Assistant Secretary
of Commerce For Oceans and Atmosphere: I was born and raised in Syracuse,
New York, and I received an outstanding undergraduate education, majoring
in physics, at LeMoyne College in my hometown. My career has involved over
40 years of continuous focus on the environmental and earth sciences, with
a strong emphasis in the atmospheric, climate, hydrological and
oceanographic areas. I have benefited from diverse work responsibilities
in academic, corporate, government and international settings. I look
forward to applying this experience in helping the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commerce Department to address
their critical national missions.
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There is concern that human activities are affecting the
heat/energy-exchange balance between Earth, the atmosphere, and space, and
inducing global climate change, often termed "global warming." Human
activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, have increased
atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and other trace greenhouse gases. If
these gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere at current rates,
most scientists believe global warming would occur through intensification
of Earth's natural heat-trapping "greenhouse effect." Possible impacts
might be seen as both positive and negative. (136KB PDF file)
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The possibility that human activities are releasing gases, including
carbon dioxide (CO2), at rates that could affect global climate has
resulted in proposals for national programs to curtail emissions. An
international framework for specific reductions in greenhouse gases was
negotiated at a meeting in Kyoto in December 1997. Concern about costs has
encouraged consideration of CO2 reduction proposals that employ
market-based mechanisms. The passage in 1990 of a tradable allowance
system for sulfur dioxide (SO2) control in the United States provides a
precedent for such mechanisms. (91KB PDF file)
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In
the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC, the U.S. participated in
negotiations that ended with agreement on carbon dioxide reductions that
could become legally binding. The United States signed the Kyoto Protocol
in 1998, but President Clinton did not se
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(Statements) |
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Statement of The Honorable John Marburger, III; Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy before the Subcommittee on Science,
Technology and Space; Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee;
United States Senate; May 22, 2002 to discuss the President's Fiscal Year
2003 budget request for research and development, including climate change
research. (17KB PDF file)
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The outdoor service life of common plastic materials is limited by their
susceptibility to solar ultraviolet radiation. Of the solar wavelengths
the UV-B component is particularly efficient in bringing about photodamage
in synthetic and naturally occurring materials. This is particularly true
of plastics, rubber and wood used in the building and agricultural
industries. Any depletion in the stratospheric ozone layer and resulting
increase in the UV-B component of terrestrial sunlight will therefore tend
to decrease the service life of these materials.
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This set of questions refers mainly to the environmental effects of ozone
depletion. The report of the Scientific Assessment Panel (http://www.gcrio.org/OnLnDoc/pdf/unepSciQandA.pdf)
contains questions and answers related to the other scientific issues
addressed by that Panel.
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The four earlier assessments on Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion,
between 1989 and 1998, dealt almost exclusively with increasing
ultraviolet radiation and its impacts. The present assessment gives an
update on these same problems, but with a special emphasis on the
interactions with climate change, at the request of the 11th Meeting of
the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. Depletion of the stratospheric ozone
layer and climate change are dealt with in separate international
conventions. Although both processes are aspects of global atmospheric
change, the measures needed for phasing out ozone depleting chemicals and
for limiting the increasing greenhouse effect are distinctly different.
Even if separated in this fashion, it is becoming increasingly clear that
the two processes have many interactions. For the time period that these
two threats co-exist, there is a strong likelihood that their interactions
will have consequences for the environment.
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The four earlier assessments on Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion,
between 1989 and 1998, dealt almost exclusively with increasing
ultraviolet radiation and its impacts. The present assessment gives an
update on these same problems, but with a special emphasis on the
interactions with climate change, at the request of the 11th Meeting of
the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. Depletion of the stratospheric ozone
layer and climate change are dealt with in separate international
conventions. Although both processes are aspects of global atmospheric
change, the measures needed for phasing out ozone depleting chemicals and
for limiting the increasing greenhouse effect are distinctly different.
Even if separated in this fashion, it is becoming increasingly clear that
the two processes have many interactions. For the time period that these
two threats co-exist, there is a strong likelihood that their interactions
will have consequences for the environment. (3MB PDF file)
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Remarks by Mr. Harlan Watson, U.S. Department of State Senior Climate
Negotiator and Special Representative, on 14 May 2002. (117KB PDF file)
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The Climate Change Science Program Planning Workshop held December 3-5
drew participants from the United States and more than 30 other countries
to review a draft version of the U.S. climate change research strategy,
which sets priorities for the nation's $1,800-million annual multi-agency
research program on climate change. The draft strategic plan, issued on
November 11, was prepared by 13 federal agencies participating in the
administration's Climate Change Science Program.
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The possibility that human activities are releasing gases, including
carbon dioxide (CO2), at rates that could affect global climate has
resulted in proposals for national programs to curtail emissions. An
international framework for specific reductions in greenhouse gases was
negotiated at a meeting in Kyoto in December 1997. Concern about costs has
encouraged consideration of CO2 reduction proposals that employ
market-based mechanisms. The passage in 1990 of a tradeable allowance
system for sulfur dioxide control in the United States to reduce acid rain
provides a precedent for such mechanisms. (93KB PDF file)
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A
detailed summary of the President's new approach to the challenge of
global climate change. This approach is designed to harness the power of
markets and technological innovation (156KB PDF file)
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In February 2002, the Bush Administration initiated a new voluntary
greenhouse gas reduction program. Rather than attempting to meet a
specific reduction target, the proposal focuses on improving the carbon
efficiency of the economy. In November 2001, the Seventh Conference of
Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change concluded
negotiations on implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. With respect to
flexible implementation mechanisms, the Parties outlined the institutions
that would oversee the flexible implementation mechanisms contained in the
Protocol. The Administration announced in March that the Kyoto Protocol
was 'dead' as far as it was concerned. However, EPA Administrator Whitman
emphasized that the Administration hoped to work constructively with the
European Commission to develop technologies and market-based incentives to
address global climate change.
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Climate change as an issue for business leaders will not go away. It will
increasingly affect the way business is done. But here's the good news: by
effectively meeting the challenge of climate change, businesses will also
deal effectively with several other issues (energy costs, reliability, and
volatility) that affect competitiveness. New business opportunities will
very likely be discovered in the process. Forward-looking business
managers who approach climate change from this perspective can expect to
gain long-term competitive advantage as a result.
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In
February 2002, the Bush Administration initiated a new voluntary
greenhouse gas reduction program. Rather than attempting to meet a
specific reduction target, the proposal focuses on improving the carbon
efficiency of the economy. In November 2001, the
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The potential health effects of elevated levels of ambient UV-B radiation
are diverse, and it is difficult to quantify the risks, especially as they
are likely to be considerably modified by human behaviour. Nevertheless
epidemiological and experimental studies have confirmed that UV radiation
is a definite risk factor for certain types of cataract, with peak
efficacy in the UV-B waveband. The causal link between squamous cell
carcinoma and cumulative solar UV exposure has been well established. New
findings regarding the genetic basis of skin cancer, including studies on
genetically modified mice, have confirmed the epidemiological evidence
that UV radiation contributes to the formation of basal cell carcinomas
and cutaneous melanomas. For the latter, animal models have demonstrated
that UV exposure at a very young age is more detrimental than exposure in
adulthood. Although suppression of certain immune responses has been
recognised following UV exposure, the impact of this suppression on the
control of infectious and autoimmune diseases is largely unknown. However,
studies on several microbial infections have indicated significant
consequences in terms of symptoms or reactivation of disease. The
possibility that the immune response to vaccination could be depressed by
UV-B exposure is of considerable concern. Newly emerging possibilities
regarding interactions between ozone depletion and global climate change
further complicate the risk assessments for human health but might result
in an increased incidence of cataracts and skin cancer, plus alterations
in the patterns of certain categories of infectious and other diseases.
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This joint press statement was released on April 23 by the United States
and the European Union at the conclusion of a meeting of representatives
to the U.S.-EU High Level Dialogue on Climate Change at the Department of
State. The U.S. Delegation was headed by: Governor Christie Whitman,
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Paula
Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs; and Jim
Connaughton, Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office
of the President. The EU Delegation was headed by: Jaume Matas, Spanish
Minister for the Environment (representing the Spanish European Union
Presidency) and Margot Wallström, Member of the European Commission. (80KB
PDF file)
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The workshop, which was held in Washington on November 5, 2001, addressed
the following three substantive topics: the future of fossil fuel
consumption, carbon implications of future land use/land cover
transformation, and modeling human interactions with the carbon cycle.
(2MB PDF file)
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Harlan L. Watson, Senior Climate Negotiator and Special Representative and
Head of the U.S. Delegation. Remarks to the Eighth Session of the
Conference of Parties (COP-8) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change. New Delhi, India, 25 October 2002.
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The effects of ozone depletion on global biogeochemical cycles, via
increased UV-B radiation at the Earth¿s surface, have continued to be
documented over the past 4 years. In this report we also document various
effects of UV-B that interact with global climate change because the
detailed interactions between ozone depletion and climate change are
central to the prediction and evaluation of future Earth environmental
conditions.
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At a Commerce Department ceremony in Washington, D.C., on April 2nd, James
R. Mahoney, was sworn in as the assistant secretary of commerce for oceans
and atmosphere. In this capacity, he is a chief manager of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the nation's top science
agency for oceans and the atmosphere under its current administrator Vice
Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, USN (ret.). Commerce Secretary Don Evans
administered the oath of office. (58.3KB PDF file)
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Delhi Declaration links climate change to sustainable development.
Environmental ministers and senior officials from some 170 countries
meeting in New Delhi reached agreement on a final resolution that
highlights the need for aid to help developing countries adapt to the
adverse impacts of climate change. The Eighth Session of the Conference of
the Parties (COP-8) to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change,
held from October 23 to November 1, adopted the so-called Delhi
Ministerial Declaration, which calls for strengthening international
collaboration on climate change and addressing the issue in the broader
context of sustainable development. (32KB PDF file)
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Study collects data in China and India - scientists say soot particles can
lead to flooding and drought. A new climate study finds that large amounts
of soot particles and other pollutants are causing changes in
precipitation and temperatures that may be responsible for the tendency
toward increased floods and droughts in China and other Asian regions over
the last several decades. A National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) press release says the results of the study, published in the
September 27 issue of the journal Science, indicate that black carbon or
soot can affect regional climate by absorbing sunlight, heating the air
and thereby altering large-scale atmospheric circulation and the
hydrologic cycle.
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A
new study funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) predicts that the world's climate will warm over the next 50 years
regardless of whether nations soon curb their greenhouse gas emissions,
such as carbon dioxide (CO2) from the burning of fossil fuels. The study
found that global temperatures may increase by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius if
no reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are made and they continue to
increase at the current rate. But if the growth rate of carbon dioxide
does not exceed its current rate and if the growth of true air pollutants
- substances that are harmful to human health - is reversed, temperatures
may rise by only 0.75 degrees Celsius.
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Final Report of "Native Peoples-Native Homelands Climate Change Workshop:
Circles of Wisdom" October 28 - November 1, 1998, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico, and the City of
Albuquerque. (820KB PDF file)
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The U.S. Climate Change Science Program Office, incorporating the U.S.
Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and the Climate Change Research
Initiative (CCRI), recently launched its Web site, http://www.climatescience.gov.
The new site will be the main clearinghouse for information on the Bush
Administration's interagency climate science initiative -- including its
Strategic Plan, which will provide the principal guidance for the U.S.
global change and climate change research programs during the next several
years.
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Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr. USN (Ret.), U.S. undersecretary of
commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator on June 11th
announced new U.S. funding for the Global Climate Observing System, an
international effort to investigate global climate change processes and
observations located within the World Meteorological Organization. (59KB
PDF file)
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The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) today announced that Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr. USN
(ret.), undersecretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA
administrator will meet with senior leaders from European and
international ocean, climate and space organizations during a week long
trip (June 7-13) to Germany, France, Switzerland and England. The Vice
Admiral's main focus for will be promoting international cooperation and
support for expanding the present global climate observation system. (66KB
PDF file)
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Retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of
commerce for oceans and atmosphere and administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will describe NOAA's broad
vision of the future of global environmental monitoring of the Earth.
Lautenbacher will present a talk at the world's aerospace community's
once-in-a-decade meeting -- the World Space Congress -- at the George R.
Brown Convention Center in Houston October 10-19, 2002.
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(Federal Register Notices) |
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Federal Register Department of Energy Notice: May 6, 2002 (Volume 67,
Number 87, pages 30370-30373): Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gas
Emissions, Reductions, and Carbon Sequestration. (72 KB PDF file)
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This 2002 Technology Agenda highlights steps President Bush is taking to
promote innovation, support entrepreneurship, and empower citizens. "The
role of government is not to create wealth; the role of our government is
to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which
minds can expand, in which technologies can reach new frontiers." (2.8MB
PDF file)
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This column by R. Glenn Hubbard, chairman of the President's Council of
Economic Advisers, first appeared in the New York Times February 15 and is
in the public domain.(91KB PDF file)
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NASA is committed over the long haul to developing a flotilla of 26 Earth
observing satellites and other technologies that will help provide
scientists a solid foundation for understanding the complex Earth climate
system. In addition to developing and managing these unique Earth
observing systems, NASA will effectively disseminate the data and
information it produces, and also will continue to make a significant
investment in on-the-ground scientific research. Once NASA has placed its
entire constellation of satellites in orbit, NASA will help transition
this capability to a sustainable observational system, and will forge
ahead in developing additional cutting-edge Earth observational
technologies.
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U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Sam Bodman told an international meeting
of climate scientists and stakeholders at U.S. Climate Change Science
Program Workshop that the United States - through an extensive research
effort - is leading the world to a better understanding of the Earth's
climate system.
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is moving into a new, expanded phase
of its program to develop carbon sequestration projects, including
studying the potential of injecting carbon dioxide emissions from power
plants into underground aquifers. Carbon dioxide, from the burning of
fossil fuels, contributes to global warming. (20KB PDF file)
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While many scientists and policy makers have focused on how heat-trapping
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are altering the global climate,
several new studies report that both air pollution and global warming
could be significantly reduced by controlling emissions of methane gas and
black carbon soot, and limiting activities like urban sprawl and
deforestation that cause land surface changes.
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New program seeks ways to store carbon in agricultural soils. Researchers
report that new farm practices and new breeds of crops may provide a way
to control carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases that
contribute to global warming. According to a July 2 press release, a
nine-university consortium has begun a $15-million research program aimed
at finding ways to increase the retention of carbon dioxide in
agricultural soils and develop new crop plants that help to store carbon
-- a process known as carbon sequestration. (23KB PDF file)
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Since the "Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 1998," numerous
laboratory investigations, atmospheric observations, and theoretical and
modeling studies have produced new key findings and have strengthened
overall understanding of the ozone layer, ozone depletion, and its effect
on ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These advances are highlighted in this
summary of the current understanding of the impact of human activities and
natural phenomena on the ozone layer and the coupling of the ozone layer
and the climate system. (68KB PDF file)
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In
a joint press statement on April 5, the United States and Japan agreed to
promote cooperation on reduction of greenhouse gases that cause global
warming through investigation of market incentives, as well identification
of promising avenues for research. (25KB PDF file)
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An aggressive new U.S. climate change research strategy, designed to
accelerate answers to critical questions about the environment, will be
the focus of more than 1,100 experts from throughout the country and the
world when they convene in Washington this week. Climate science as a
fully understood and universally accepted discipline is still in its
infancy. We know that the surface temperature of the Earth has warmed,
rising 0.6 degrees Celsius (1 degree Fahrenheit) over the past century.
And the National Academy of Sciences indicates that human activity is a
contributing factor to higher concentrations of greenhouse gases.
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The United States is taking action to meet environmental challenges,
including global climate change, not just rhetoric. We are committed to a
multi-billion dollar program to develop and deploy advanced technologies
to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. (29KB PDF file)
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In a statement by Dr. John Marburger, Director of the White House Office
of Science and Technology Policy, before the U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Science on July 10th, it was noted that in a series of clear
and public statements, the President of the United States described
climate change as a complex, long-term challenge that requires an
effective and science-based response. The President acknowledged the
responsibility of the United States to lead in dealing with this
challenge. (17KB PDF file)
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Dr. Mahoney, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere,
presented testimony about the Administration's scientific research program
on global change and climate change. He stated that the status of the
entire earth system, including the potential impacts of climate and
ecosystem variability (regardless of its origin), is a capstone issue for
our generation and will continue to be so for our children. The
Administration fully embraces the need to provide the best possible
scientific basis for understanding the complex interactions that determine
the constantly changing nature of our earth's life systems. Moreover, the
Administration is committed to making full use of our best scientific
information to determine optimal investments and actions on the global,
national and regional scales to mitigate adverse anthropogenic changes,
and to adapt to unavoidable natural changes. (172KB PDF file)
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Dr. Mahoney, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere,
presented testimony about the Administration's scientific research program
on global change and climate change. He stated that the status of the
entire earth system, including the potential impacts of climate and
ecosystem variability (regardless of its origin), is a capstone issue for
our generation and will continue to be so for our children. The
Administration fully embraces the need to provide the best possible
scientific basis for understanding the complex interactions that determine
the constantly changing nature of our earth's life systems. Moreover, the
Administration is committed to making full use of our best scientific
information to determine optimal investments and actions on the global,
national and regional scales to mitigate adverse anthropogenic changes,
and to adapt to unavoidable natural changes.
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U.S.-Republic of Korea Joint Statement on Enhanced Bilateral Climate
Change Cooperation: The Republic of Korea and the United States exchanged
views on their policies on global climate change and agreed to enhance
their bilateral cooperation. The United States explained the policy
announced by President Bush on February 14, 2002, under which the United
States is taking action to address climate change to achieve a new and
ambitious national goal for reducing projected emissions growth in the
next decade. The Republic of Korea reiterated its commitment to the Kyoto
Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and
stated that it is pursuing the relevant domestic procedures to ratify the
Kyoto Protocol. Communication and cooperation between the two countries
will help to advance both the U.S. and Korean efforts. (16KB PDF file)
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The United States and New Zealand plan to enhance their cooperation in the
field of climate change, according to the State Department. In an October
24 joint statement, the State Department said Under Secretary of State for
Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and the Honorable Pete Hodgson, Convenor
of New Zealand's Ministerial Group on Climate Change, met in Washington,
D.C. to "exchange views on climate change." The two officials agreed to
enhance "bilateral dialogue and practical cooperation," the State
Department said. "The United States and New Zealand agreed that climate
change was a pressing issue that requires a global solution," the State
Department added.
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In this U.S. Climate Action Report, the United States provides its third
formal national communication under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, as envisioned under Articles 4 and 12 of the
Convention. The U.S. describes its national circumstances, identifies
existing and planned policies and measures, indicates future trends in
greenhouse gas emissions, outlines expected impacts and adaptation
measures, and provides information on financial resources, technology
transfer, research, and systematic observations.
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Third National Communication of the United States of America Under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
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A
conference targeted at all users in the Americas of satellite data
collected by the United States will be held December 9-13 in Miami, the US
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced. The
agency said that during the next several years, the satellite system
operated by NOAA will undergo significant changes and technological
improvements. The purpose of the conference is to begin preparing all
users for these upcoming changes. (15KB PDF file)
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In a letter to President Bush, Secretary of Commerce Don Evans and
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham submitted a progress update on federal
climate change science and technology programs. The update, from the
cabinet level Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology
Integration, jointly chaired by Evans and Abraham, outlines steps taken in
four key areas: federal climate research, technology development,
voluntary emissions reduction, and collaborative international activities.
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Study links human actions to global warming. (115KB PDF file)
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Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2000. Central
to any study of climate change is the development of an emissions
inventory that identifies and quantifies a country's primary anthropogenic
sources and sinks of greenhouse gases. This current inventory adheres to
both (1) a comprehensive and detailed methodology for estimating sources
and sinks of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, and (2) a common and
consistent mechanism that enables signatory countries to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to compare the
relative contribution of different emission sources and greenhouse gases
to climate change. Moreover, systematically and consistently estimating
national and international emissions is a prerequisite for accounting for
reductions and evaluating mitigation strategies.
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In
a closing statement November 1 at the end of United Nations-sponsored
talks in New Delhi on climate change, the head of the U.S. delegation,
Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, expressed
support for the conference declaration.
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The "Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks" provides
important information about greenhouse gases, quantifies how much of each
gas was emitted into the atmosphere, and describes some of the effects of
these emissions on the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Greenhouse Gas Inventory Program has developed extensive
technical expertise, internationally recognized analytical methodologies,
and one of the most rigorous management systems in the world for
estimation, documentation, and evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions and
sinks for all source categories. (2.2MB PDF file)
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U.S. Ambassador Minikes' statement to the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council in Vienna March 7, "U.S.
efforts compare very favorably to those of the EU, Japan and Canada.
Reducing greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent over the next ten years is
comparable to the average progress that nations participating in the Kyoto
protocol are projected to achieve¿the United States is in the front ranks
of nations committed to combating global climate change." (16KB PDF file)
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A
senior US official at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
said August 28 [2002] that the United States strongly supports the use of
renewable energy sources to bring energy services to people who now have
no access, but opposes setting global targets for renewable energy. (18KB
PDF file)
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A
U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Colin Powell, joins those from
over 170 countries participating in the environment and development summit
being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 26 to September 4. The
delegations, many led by heads of government, are set to finalize a new
global implementation plan to accelerate sustainable development and
launch a series of innovative partnership activities at the regional,
national and international level. (20KB PDF file)
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The United States will be "very active" in the talks on climate change
beginning October 23 in New Delhi, but will play a "low key role" in
discussions relating to the Kyoto Protocol and its implementation,
according to Harlan Watson, senior U.S. climate negotiator and a leading
member of the U.S. State Department delegation to the talks. The meeting
is the Eighth Conference of the Parties (COP-8) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
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Darwin will be newest Atmospheric Radiation Measurement facility. On July
30, 2002, the United States and Australia will formally commission a new
site to monitor severe weather conditions, such as drought and monsoons,
in Darwin, Australia, according to a US Department of Energy statement.
The Darwin facility will be part of the global Atmospheric Radiation
Measurement (ARM) program, enabling scientists to collect data critical
for computer models that accurately simulate climate change. (23KB PDF
file)
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Mr. Harlan Watson, U.S. Senior Climate Change Negotiator and Special
Representative, visited New Delhi on April 29-30, 2002. He called on
Minister of Power, Mr. Suresh Prabhu, and Secretary, Ministry of
Environment and Forests, and met senior officials from Ministries of
Environment and Forests, Power, Petroleum and Natural Gas,
Non-Conventional Energy Sources and External Affairs. (75KB PDF file)
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The United States and Italy convened a bilateral "Joint Climate Change
Research Meeting" in Rome on January 22-23, 2002, following upon the July
19, 2001 pledge of President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi to undertake joint research on climate change. This pledge
recognized the need to draw on sound science and the power of technology
to reduce the uncertainty associated with future global climate and
environmental change. (62KB PDF file)
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A
statement from Dr. Harlan Watson, Senior Negotiator and Special
Representative, following the second meetings of the U.S.-Japan High-Level
Consultations Working Groups on Climate Change Science and Technology and
on Developing Countries, February 25-26, 2002. These meetings were
conducted under the June 30, 2001 agreement of President George W. Bush
and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to undertake "high-level U.S.-Japan
government-to-government consultations to explore common ground and areas
for common action on climate change." (36KB PDF file)
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Summary of U.S. Federal Agency programs and interests in climate change
research and technology and related areas with Mexico.
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Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change
Convention. According to a September 30, 2002 United Nations press
release, delegates will use the meeting -- known officially as the Eighth
Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention
-- to prepare for the entry into force of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The
delegates will also focus on key concerns of developing countries, such as
how to cope with the expected impacts of climate change.
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Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Lautenbacher
testified on May 1 before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee. He testified on the President's FY 2003 NOAA Budget Request.
Acting Chair Ron Wyden and Sen. Olympia Snowe asked Under Secretary
Lautenbacher about Pacific Coast groundfish, Klamath Basin, court-ordered
Northeast fisheries restrictions, the Administration Clean Skies and
Climate Change Research Initiatives, and other issues. (124KB PDF file)
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The United States announces its nomination of Dr. Susan Solomon of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as Co-Chair of the UN
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group I, and its
support of Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, the candidate proposed by the
government of India, as Panel Chairman. (23KB PDF file)
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Hydrogen fuel cells, carbon sequestration, expanded nuclear energy
studied. U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham has outlined three areas of
research into technologies that may reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
the effects of climate change. Abraham spoke December 3 at a Washington
meeting of more than 1,300 scientists and experts from 30 countries,
assembled to assess the U.S. climate change research strategy.
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Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Administrator of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has called for a fully implemented
global satellite observing system for climate that will provide the tools
needed to take "the pulse of the planet." In this June 11th statement to
the Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization, Adm.
Lautenbacher also called for open sharing of data among nations. (35KB PDF
file)
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The Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp, met
in Washington on July 9th with Dr Paula Dobriansky, US Undersecretary of
State, to discuss the Australia-US Climate Action Partnership. Dr Kemp and
Dr Dobriansky announced the first set of cooperative projects to be
implemented under the Partnership. The program includes 19 projects in the
following areas: climate change science and monitoring; renewable and
reduced emission stationary energy technologies; engagement with business
on technology development, and policy design and implementation; capacity
building in developing countries; and greenhouse accounting in the
forestry and agriculture sectors. (137KB PDF file)
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A
new model for partnership between developed and developing countries
worldwide is evolving to address climate change concerns. The US-India
Technology Cooperation on Global Climate Change side event on October 31st
at the UNFCCC COP-8 provides an important forum to highlight US-India
collaboration on protecting the global environment. (181KB PDF file)
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Title XVI, Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT)
directed the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to establish a
mechanism for "the voluntary collection and reporting of information
on¿annual reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon fixation
achieved through any measures¿" This publication summarizes data reported
for 2000, the seventh year of data collection for the Voluntary Reporting
of Greenhouse Gases Program. (1.4MB PDF file)
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The World Bank announced August 6 that $17.3 million will be paid to
compensate seven Russian enterprises that have ceased producing
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons, the most potent substances found to
deplete Earth's ozone layer. (16KB PDF file)
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This fourth of a series of yearly publications represents another
important step in the interagency process of making the data and
information related to the Global Change Research Program available.
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The warming of the Earth has been the subject of intense debate and
concern for many scientists, policy-makers, and citizens for at least the
past decade. Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions, a
new report by a committee of the National Research Council, characterizes
the global warming trend over the last 100 years, and examines what may be
in store for the 21st century and the extent to which warming may be
attributable to human activity. The committee was made up of 11 of the
nation's top climate scientists, including seven members of the National
Academy of Sciences, one of whom is a Nobel Prize winner.
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Closing statement by Paula J. Dobriansky (US Under Secretary of State for
Global Affairs) to the Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties
(COP-7) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
Marrakech, Morocco, 9 November 2001 (72KB PDF file)
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Remarks by Paula J. Dobriansky (US Under Secretary of State for Global
Affairs) to a National Foreign Policy Conference for Leaders of
Nongovernmental Organization, Washington, DC, 26 October 2001. (122KB PDF
file)
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The President directed a Cabinet-level Working Group to review U.S.
climate change policy. The Working Group produced this report containing
its initial findings, including (1) summaries of current U.S. actions; (2)
an analysis of the Kyoto Protocol; and (3) proposals to advance the
science, advance technologies, and create partnerships in the Western
Hemisphere and throughout the world to address climate change.
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Remarks by Dr. Harlan L. Watson to The Royal Institute of International
Affairs Conference, 2 October 2001 (99KB PDF file)
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Over 150 delegates from around 100 governments met in Shanghai, China from
17-20 January to consider the Working Group I contribution to the Third
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis. The full report, which runs
over 1000 pages, is the work of 123 Lead Authors from around the world.
They in turn drew on 516 Contributing Authors. The report went through
extensive review by experts and governments. The full report is published
by Cambridge University Press. (330Kb PDF file)
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This report assesses the sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability
of natural and human systems to climate change, and the potential
consequences of climate change. The full report is published by Cambridge
University Press. (157Kb PDF file)
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This report assess the scientific, technical, environmental, economic, and
social aspects of the mitigation of climate change. The full report is
published by Cambridge University Press. (112Kb PDF file)
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An annual report by the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, Committee
on Environment and Natural Resources of the National Science and Technology
Council. Our Changing Planet describes the US Global Change Research
Program for FY 2002. Federal Agency activities and funding levels
are presented. A printed copy of this publication can be obtained
without charge by submitting a request to GCRIO (see contact information
at bottom of page); or by using our on-line
document request form.
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Remarks by Paula J. Dobriansky (US Under Secretary of State for Global
Affairs) to the Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties (COP-7) to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Marrakech,
Morocco, 7 November 2001 (66KB PDF file)
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Speech by Larry Lindsey, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy,
to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 3 May 2001
(118KB PDF file)
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The President announced his first set of actions implementing initiatives
to advance the science of climate change, to spur technological
innovation, and to promote cooperation in the Western Hemisphere and
beyond.
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A
White House National Energy Policy Development Group developed this
national energy policy to bring together business, government, local
communities and citizens to promote dependable, affordable and
environmentally sound energy for the future. The May 2001 report envisions
a comprehensive long-term strategy that uses leading edge technology to
produce an integrated energy, environmental and economic policy.
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Remarks by Dr. Harlan L. Watson to the Fundacion Gas Natural and Spain's
Ministry of Environment at the International Seminar on "Climate Change:
International Agreements and Mitigation Alternatives," 29 November 2001
(104KB PDF file)
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Testimony of David L. Evans, Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
before the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (10
July 2001).
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The White House released a fact sheet May 12 explaining recommendations to
improve and expand energy conservation initiatives. The recommendations
are announced just as the Bush administration prepares to release a
comprehensive new energy policy, coming from the National Energy Policy
Development Group led by Vice President Cheney. (117KB PDF file)
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Since its inception, the U.S. Global Change Research Program has had the
policy of full and open data availability. This policy has already been
implemented not only through the participating agencies but through many
inter-agency mechanisms such as public
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El Niño and the Science of Climate Prediction; The Great El Niño of of
1997 and 1998: Impacts on Precipitation and Temperature; The Application
of Climate Information; The Extreme Weather Events of 1997 and 1998;
Beyond Kyoto: Toward a Technology Greenhouse Strategy; From A Carbon
Economy To A Mixed Economy: A Global Opportunity; The Carbon Cycle,
Climate, and the Long-Term Effects of Fossil Fuel Burning; The Case of the
Missing Songbirds; Do We Still Need Nature? The Importance of
Biodiversity; Ending Hunger: Current Status and Future Prospects; Impacts
of Introduced Species in the United States; Population Policy: Consensus
and Challenges; Remembrance Of Things Past: Greenhouse Lessons From The
Geologic Record; How Bountiful Are Ocean Fisheries?; The Sun And Climate;
The Environment Since 1970; Climate Models: How Reliable Are Their
Predictions; Global and U.S. National Population Trends; Impacts of a
Projected Depletion of the Ozone Layer; Potential Impacts of Climate
Change on Agriculture and Food Supply; Trends in U.S. Climate During the
Twentieth Century; America's Water Supply: Status and Prospects for the
Future; Past and Present Land Use and Land Cover in the U.S.A.
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The Center is the focal point in the DOT of expertise on transportation
and climate change. Through strategic research, policy analysis,
partnerships and outreach, the Center creates comprehensive and
multi-modal approaches to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gases
and to mitigate the effects of global climate change on the transportation
network.
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The Annual Energy Outlook 2001 presents midterm forecasts of energy
supply, demand, and prices through 2020 prepared by the Energy Information
Administration (EIA). The projections are based on results from EIA¿s
National Energy Modeling System (NEMS).
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The latest full assessment report on Environmental Effects of Ozone
Depletion is that of November, 1998. This Interim Summary is an update on
recent findings. Special attention has been paid to interactions between
ozone depletion and climate change. Potential interactions are indicated
within the various sections.
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The hearing on the Science of Global Warming focused on the scientific
facts behind global climate change. Witnesses consisted of several experts
on climate and atmospheric science involved with the administration,
federal agencies, and academic and international research institutions.
While the expert testimony covered several different themes within climate
change science, a few key issues were stressed by all of the witnesses as
conventional wisdom accepted by an overwhelming majority of the scientific
community.
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A
national assessment of the potential impacts of climate change was called
for in the 1990 legislation that established the US Global Change Research
Program (USGCRP). To respond to this charge, the USGCRP began the National
Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change
in 1997 by initiating a series of 20 workshops around the country to
identify the critical interfaces between climate change, the environment,
and society. A draft report was released for public review on June 12. The
July 18th hearing was to hear testimony on the draft report.
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This hearing follows two others--one examining the science behind global
warming as a means of defining the issue of climate change (17 May 2000)
and the other addressing the National Assessment Report, Climate Change
Impacts on the United States (18 July 2000). This current hearing examines
a few of the many solutions or approaches to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepares the
official U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks to comply
with existing commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2.1MB PDF file)
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The set of scenarios in the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES)
is based on an extensive assessment of the literature, sex alternative
modeling approaches, and an "open process' that solicited wide
participation and feedback from many groups and individuals. The SRES
scenarios include the range of emissions of all relevant species of
greenhouse gases and sulfur and their driving forces. (1.2 MB PDF file)
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The report addresses the technology transfer problem in the context of
climate change while emphasizing the sustainable development perspective.
(331KB PDF file)
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This Special Report discusses the global carbon cycle and how different
land use and forestry activities currently affect standing carbon stocks
and emissions of greenhouse gases. It also looks forward and examines
future carbon uptake and emissions that may result from employing varying
definitional scenarios and carbon accounting strategies, linked to the
Kyoto Protocol, within the forestry and land-use sectors.
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An annual report by the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, Committee
on Environment and Natural Resources of the National Science and Technology
Council. Our Changing Planet describes the US Global Change Research
Program for FY 2001. Federal Agency activities and funding levels
are presented. A printed copy of this publication can be obtained
without chargeby submitting a request to GCRIO (see contact information
at bottom of page); or by using our on-line
document request form.
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As
part of a congressionally mandated national study of the impacts of
climate variability and change in the United States, the authors assessed
the potential impacts that projected changes in climate (based on modeled
data developed for the national study) might have on a limited number of
health outcomes that are associated with weather and/or climate.
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This report summarizes the methods, findings, and recommendations from the
Great Lakes Regional Assessment Team regarding the potential impacts of
future climate change and variability in the Great Lakes region. It
complements the national overview report that was prepared by the National
Assessment Synthesis Team (NAST) as part of the National Assessment of
Climate Change. The report is intended for use by federal, state, and
local government officials and by people in their roles as US citizens,
employees, and residents of the community. The report focuses on the years
2030 and 2090. These two times occur approximately 30 years before and
after the time when atmospheric carbon dioxide is expected to have doubled
from its current value. (7.4MB PDF file)
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The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Office of
Science are jointly carrying out research on the capture and storage of
carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. The goal of the program, which is
managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, is to provide
economically competitive and environmentally safe options for offsetting
the projected growth in carbon dioxide emissions.
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The countries participating in the USCSP have produced summary reports for
the sectors they studied (GHG Emissions Inventory; Assessment of
Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change; and GHG Mitigation
Options). Countries for which electronic versions are currently available
are Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Fiji, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Nepal, the Russian
Federation, Uganda, Ukraine, and Uruguay.
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 http://www.gcrio.org/CSP/finalrpt.html |
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Climate provides the context for the environment and for many human
activities - changes in the climate will thus have consequences for the
environment and for human activities. While solar radiation is the primary
energy source for maintaining the Earth's temperature, the atmospheric
concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and
other gases determine the intensity of the natural greenhouse effect that
currently keeps the Earth's surface temperature at about 58°F (14°C).
Without this natural greenhouse effect, the Earth's surface temperature
would be about 0°F (about -18°C), a temperature that would make the Earth
uninhabitable for life as we know it.
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It is likely that climate changes and atmospheric CO2 levels, as defined
by the scenarios examined in this Assessment, will not imperil crop
production in the US during the 21st century. The Assessment found that,
at the national level, productivity of many major crops increased. Crops
showing generally positive results include cotton, corn for grain and
silage, soybeans, sorghum, barley, sugar beets, and citrus fruits.
Pastures also showed increased productivity. For other crops including
wheat, rice, oats, hay, sugar cane, potatoes, and tomatoes, yields are
projected to increase under some conditions and decline under others.
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Spanning an area nearly a fifth the size of the entire lower 48 states,
Alaska includes extreme physical, climatic, and ecological diversity in
its rainforests, mountain glaciers, boreal spruce forest, tundra,
peatlands, and meadows. Lightly populated and growing about 1.5% per year,
Alaska has the nation's highest median household income, with an economy
dominated by government and natural resources. In contrast to other
regions, the most severe environmental stresses in Alaska at present are
already climate-related. Recent warming has been accompanied by several
decades of thawing in discontinuous permafrost, which is present in most
of central and southern Alaska, causing increased ground subsidence,
erosion, landslides, and disruption and damage to forests, buildings, and
infrastructure. Sea ice off the Alaskan coast is retreating (by 14% since
1978) and thinning (by 40% since the 1960s), with widespread effects on
marine ecosystems, coastal climate, human settlements, and subsistence
activities.
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The US has over 95,000 miles of coastline and approximately 3.4 million
square miles of ocean within its territorial sea, all of which provide a
wide range of essential goods and services to human systems. Coastal and
marine ecosystems support diverse and important fisheries throughout the
nation's waters, hold vast storehouses of biological diversity, and
provide unparalleled recreational opportunities. Some 53% of the total US
population lives on the 17% of land in the coastal zone, and these areas
become more crowded every year. Demands on coastal and marine resources
are rapidly increasing, and as coastal areas become more developed, the
vulnerability of human settlements to hurricanes, storm surges, and
flooding events also increases. Coastal and marine environments are
intrinsically linked to climate in many ways. The ocean is an important
distributor of the planet's heat, and this distribution could be strongly
influenced by changes in global climate. Sea-level rise is projected to
accelerate in the 21st century, with dramatic impacts in those regions
where subsidence and erosion problems already exist.
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Forests cover nearly one-third of the US, providing wildlife habitat,
clean air and water, cultural and aesthetic values, carbon storage,
recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and autumn
leaf tours, and products that can be harvested such as timber, pulpwood,
fuelwood, wild game, ferns, mushrooms, and berries. This wealth depends on
forest biodiversity-the variety of plants, animals, and microbe
species,-and forest functioning-water flow, nutrient cycling, and
productivity. These aspects of forests are strongly influenced by climate
and human land use.
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The Great Plains produces much of the nation's grain, meat, and fiber, and
in addition provides recreation, wildlife habitat, and water resources.
Though more rural than the rest of the United States, the urban areas of
the Great Plains provide housing and jobs for two-thirds of the people of
the Great Plains. Soil organic matter is a major resource of the Great
Plains as it provides improved soil water retention, soil fertility, and
the long-term storage of carbon.
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Projections of the extent and direction of the potential health impacts of
climate variability and change are extremely difficult to make because of
the many confounding and poorly understood factors associated with
potential health outcomes, population vulnerability, and adaptation. In
fact, the relationship between weather and specific health outcomes is
understood for a relatively small number of diseases, with few
quantitative models available for analysis. The costs, benefits and
availability of resources to address adaptation measures also require
evaluation. Research aimed at filling the priority knowledge gaps
identified in this assessment would allow for more quantitative
assessments in the future.
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This section deals with the US-affiliated islands of the Caribbean and
Pacific. Included are Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in the
Caribbean and the Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia,
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau in the
Pacific. The latter three are independent states in free association with
the United States. Hawaii became the 50th state of the US in 1959. The
Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa are US territories. The Northern
Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico are commonwealths.
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The Midwest is characterized by farming, manufacturing, and forestry. The
Great Lakes form the world's largest freshwater lake system, providing a
major recreation area as well as a regional water transportation system
and access to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway. The region
encompasses the headwaters and upper basin of the Mississippi River and
most of the length of the Ohio River, both critical water sources and
means of industrial transportation providing an outlet to the Gulf of
Mexico. The Midwest contains some of the richest farmland in the world and
produces most of the nation's corn and soybeans. It also has important
metropolitan centers, including Chicago and Detroit. The largest urban
areas in the region are found along the Great Lakes and major rivers. The
'North Woods' are a large source of forestry products and have the
advantage of being situated near the Great Lakes, providing for easy
transportation.
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Native peoples, including American Indians and the indigenous peoples of
Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific and Caribbean Islands, currently comprise
almost 1% of the US population. Formal tribal enrollments total
approximately two million individuals, more than half of whom live on or
adjacent to hundreds of reservations throughout the country, while the
rest live in cities, suburbs, and small rural communities outside the
boundaries of reservations. The federal government recognizes the unique
status of more than 565 tribal and Alaska Native governments as 'domestic
dependent nations.' The relationships between tribes and the federal
government are determined by treaties, executive orders, tribal
legislation, acts of Congress, and decisions of the federal courts. These
actions cover a range of issues that will be important in adapting to
climate change, from responsibilities and governance to use and
maintenance of land and water resources.
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The Northeast is characterized by diverse waterways, extensive shorelines,
and a varied landscape in which weather and the physical climate are
dominant variables. The contrasts, from mountain vistas and extensive
forests to one of the most densely populated corridors in the US, are
noteworthy. The Northeast includes the largest financial market in the
world (New York City), the nation's most productive non-irrigated
agricultural county (Lancaster, PA), and the largest estuarine region (the
Chesapeake Bay) in the US. The Northeast is dominated by managed
vegetation, with much of the landscape covered by a mosaic of farmland and
forest. The varied physical setting of the Northeast is matched by its
highly diversified economy and by the character of its human populations.
The majority of the population is concentrated in the coastal plain and
piedmont regions, and within major urban areas. The economic activities
within the region range from agriculture to resource extraction (forestry,
fisheries, and mining), to major service industries highly dependent on
communication and travel, to recreation and tourism, to manufacturing and
transportation of industrial goods and materials. Assessment of the
impacts of climate change is based on observed climate trends, climate
simulations, and the importance of past extreme weather events.
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The Northwest, which includes the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho,
has a great diversity of resources and ecosystems, including spectacular
forests containing some of the world's largest trees; abrupt topography
that generates sharp changes in climate and ecosystems over short
distances; mountain and marine environments in close proximity, making for
strong reciprocal influences between terrestrial and aquatic environments;
and nearly all the volcanoes and glaciers in the contiguous US. The region
has seen several decades of rapid population and economic growth, with
population nearly doubling since 1970, a growth rate almost twice the
national average. The same environmental attractions that draw people and
investment to the region are increasingly stressed by the region's rapid
development. The consequences include loss of old-growth forests,
wetlands, and native grass and steppe communities, increasing urban air
pollution, extreme reduction of salmon runs, and increasing numbers of
threatened and endangered species. Climate change and its impacts will
interact with these existing stresses in the region.
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It is obvious, from history and everyday observation, that weather and
climate can have impacts on people. Human impacts can arise from weather
and climate events at many scales: from individual extreme events such as
hurricanes or ice storms; from anomalous seasons such as an unusually cold
winter or dry summer; or from multi-year departures from normal climate
conditions, such as the drought of the 1930s.
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The Southeast "sunbelt" is a rapidly growing region with a population
increase of 32% between 1970 and 1990. Much of this growth occurred in
coastal counties, which are projected to grow another 41% between 2000 and
2025. The number of farms in the region decreased 80% between 1930 and
1997 as the urban population expanded, but the Southeast still produces
roughly one quarter of US agricultural crops. The Southeast has become
America's 'woodbasket,' producing about half of America's timber supplies.
The region also produces a large portion of the nation's fish, poultry,
tobacco, oil, coal, and natural gas. Prior to European settlement, the
landscape was primarily forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Most of the
native forests were converted to managed forests and agricultural lands by
1920. Although much of the landscape has been altered, a wide range of
ecosystem types exists and overall species diversity is high.
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Ecosystems are communities of plants and animals and the physical
environment in which they exist. Ecologists often categorize ecosystems by
their dominant vegetation - the deciduous broad-leafed forest ecosystems
of New England, the short-grass prairie ecosystems of the Great Plains,
the desert ecosystems of the Southwest. Concerns for continued ecosystem
health and performance stem from two primary issues. Ecosystems of all
types, from the most natural to the most extensively managed, produce a
variety of goods and services that benefit humans.
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Water supply conditions in all regions and sectors in the US are likely to
be affected by climate change, either through increased demands associated
with higher temperatures, or changes in precipitation and runoff patterns.
Water sector concerns include effects on ecosystems, particularly aquatic
systems such as lakes, streams, wetlands, and estuaries. Although
competition for water supplies is extremely intense, particularly in the
western US, substantial ability to adjust to changing demands for water
exists in the current water management system. It is not known whether the
effects of climate change will require dramatic changes in infrastructure
to control flooding and provide reliable water supplies during drought.
However, it is known that precipitation and temperature changes are
already increasing runoff volumes and changing seasonal availability of
water supply, and that these changes are likely to be more dramatic in the
future.
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The West is characterized by variable climate, diverse topography and
ecosystems, an increasing human population, and a rapidly growing and
changing economy. Western landscapes range from the coastal areas of
California, to the deserts of the Southwest, to the alpine tundra of the
Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains. Since 1950, the region's population has
quadrupled, with most people now living in urban areas. The economy of the
West has been transformed from one dominated by agriculture and resource
extraction to one dominated by government, manufacturing, and services.
National parks attract tourists from around the world. The region has a
slightly greater share of its economy in sectors that are sensitive to
climate than the nation as a whole; these include agriculture, mining,
construction, and tourism, which currently represent one-eighth of the
region's economy.
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New report suggests that climate change may have serious impacts on
national water resources. Latest in a series of reports from the U.S.
National Assessment predicts changes in runoff, rising sea levels, and
increased risks of flooding. (1.8MB PDF file)
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The countries participating in the USCSP have produced summary reports for
the sectors they studied (GHG Emissions Inventory; Assessment of
Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change; and GHG Mitigation
Options). Countries for which electronic versions are currently available
are Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Fiji, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Nepal, the Russian
Federation, Uganda, Ukraine, and Uruguay.
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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Assessment Panel on the
Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion produced this interim summary.
The assessment is given in seven sections: changes in ultraviolet
radiation, effects on human and animal health, effects on terrestrial
ecosystems, effects on aquatic ecosystems, effects on biogeochemical
cycles, effects on air quality, and effects on materials.
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Oversight hearing to receive testimony on the economic impacts of the
Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
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Hearing on voluntary activities to reduce the emission of greenhouse
gases.
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Hearing on S. 547, Credit for Voluntary Reductions Act. The Act would
encourage voluntary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by U.S.
industries by promising those industries credits for the reductions they
took if a mandatory program were ever adopted.
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This special report was prepared following a request from the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Parties to the
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The report
considers all the gases and particles emitted by aircraft into the upper
atmosphere and the role that they play in modifying the chemical
properties of the atmosphere. It does not deal with the effects of engine
emissions on local air quality near the surface.
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April 1999 White House fact sheet released by the Bureau of Oceans and
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US Department of State
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Our Changing Planet: The FY 2000 US Global Change Research Program is a
report to Congress supplementing the President's FY 2000 budget, pursuant
to the Global Change Research Act of 1990. The report describes the US
Global Change Research Program (USGCRP); outlines a perspective for global
change research in the decade ahead and the changing vision for the
research agenda; presents an implementation plan for the USGCRP in FY
2000, with a discussion of each of the Program Elements; outlines a FY
2000 initiative in Carbon Cycle Science; summarizes key USGCRP
accomplishments in 1998; and provides a detailed view of the FY 2000
USGCRP budget, including FY 2000 program components and program highlights
by agency.
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In the 1990s, a series of global conferences succeeded in raising
awareness of the challenges facing the world due to interactive linkages
among population, increasing poverty and environmental degradation. These
conferences ¿ the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED), the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD),
the Fourth World Conference on Women, and the World Summit for Social
Development (Social Summit) ¿ arrived at consensus on the actions required
to bring about environmentally sustainable and equitable development.
Since those conferences, the international community has continued to
assess progress and to improve the translation of the general consensus
guidelines into national and local action programs.
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This Synthesis Report was produced by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) Secretariat for the Vienna Convention for the Protection
of the Ozone Layer, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete
the Ozone Layer (Ozone Secretariat). The goals of the Report are twofold:
(i) To synthesize the major 1998 findings and conclusions of the three
Assessment Panels of the Montreal Protocol, and (ii) to place this
information in the context of the past decade over which assessments have
been provided to the Parties to the Protocol. (765Kb pdf file)
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This integrated carbon cycle research plan was prepared at the request of
the Agencies of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and addresses
oceanic, atmospheric, and terrestrial components of the carbon cycle.
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Through the U.S. Country Studies Program, the U.S. Government has been
providing technical and financial support to 56 developing countries and
countries with economies in transition to assist them in conducting
climate change studies. The studies have enabled these countries to
develop inventories of their anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases,
assess their vulnerabilities to climate change, and evaluate response
strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The program was
announced by the President prior to the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
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To help inform international discussion on the issue of joint
implementation, the United States submitted this fourth report on the
accomplishments of the U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation (USIJI) to
the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC). In addition to the on-line version, copies of the
complete US/USIJI Fourth Report are available without charge on CD and can
be requested by e-mail: usiji@ee.doe.gov; by telephone +1 (202) 586-3288;
or by fax +1 (202) 586-3485.
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At the request of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Global
Change Research Program (USGCRP), the Udall Center for Studies in Public
Policy and other units at The University of Arizona organized and hosted
the Southwest Regional Climate Change Symposium and Workshop in Tucson,
Arizona, on September 3-5, 1997. The intent of the symposium and workshop
was to bring together important stakeholders--representatives from the
private sector, government agencies, educational institutions, and
interested citizens--to determine the state-of-knowledge, information and
research needs, and possible policy strategies related to the impacts of
and responses to climate variability and change in the Southwest.
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Elements of Change is a series of reports from the Aspen Global Change
Institute's (AGCI) summer programs. The 1997 report addresses "Scaling
From Site-Specific Observations to Global Model Grids" and "Planning for
the U.S. National Assessment of the Cons
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The assessment presented in this special issue of Journal of
Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology deals with environmental
effects of ozone depletion. It was produced originally in a limited
edition for governments, via the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The assessment is given in seven papers as follows: changes in ultraviolet
radiation, effects on human and animal health, effects on aquatic
ecosystems, effects on biogeochemical cycles, effects on air quality, and
effects on materials.
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These questions are extracted from the United Nations Environment
Programme's publication entitled, Environmental Effects of Ozone
Depletion: 1998 Assessment. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer requires periodic assessments of available
scientific, environmental, technical and economic information. These
questions are found in the 1998 assessment of environmental effects.
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Hearing to receive the US Government Accounting Office's (GAO) preliminary
comments on its review of the Administration's Climate Change Proposal and
to hear the Administration's response to GAO's comments.
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Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change and associated actions taken and decisions adopted by the Third
Conference of the Parties (COP-3) (231KB PDF file)
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An
annual report by the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, Committee on
Environment and Natural Resources of the National Science and Technology
Council. Our Changing Planet describes the US Global Change Research
Program for FY 1999. Federal Agency activities and funding levels are
presented.
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The conclusions to be drawn from this report can be summarized in three
parts: (1) climate change is a clearly defined problem and is well
recognized at the highest levels in the US government; (2) the combined
effort to address climate change are in excess of $2 billion; and (3)
notwithstanding this effort, emissions continue to grow.
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This summary is the last one between the full assessments of 1994 and 1998
on environmental effects of ozone depletion. The aim is to keep the
Parties to the Montreal Protocol informed about new scientific
developments. Recent studies have confirmed many of the conclusions of the
earlier assessments. In addition, several new findings have been reported.
New concerns have been raised by record low ozone, and associated higher
UV-B radiation at the Earth's surface, over populated areas of the
Northern Hemisphere during late winter and early spring.
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Hearing to receive testimony on the science and economics of global
climate change.
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An
annual report by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR)
of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). Our Changing Planet
describes the US Global Change Research Program for FY 1998. Federal
Agency activities and funding levels are presented.
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This Special Report, which has been produced by Working Group II of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), builds on the Working
Group's contribution to the Second Assessment Report (SAR), and
incorporates more recent information made available since mid-1995.
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The document contains recommendations on how to incorporate sustainability
education into and beyond the classroom. The overarching goal is to infuse
the concepts of sustainability into all learning from structured schooling
in formal education settings to lifelong learning in non-formal programs.
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This United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) report comes between the
Assessments of 1994 and 1998 on the Environmental Effects of Ozone
Depletion. The Executive Summary presented here confirms previous research
and presents new findings concerning: Ozone and UV changes; health effects
of ozone depletion; and the effects of ozone depletion on terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems as well as on biogeochemical cycles and air quality.
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As a contribution to integrated environmental/ecological monitoring and
state-of-the-environment reporting, the International Union of Geological
Sciences (IUGS) through its Commission on Geological Sciences for
Environmental Planning has developed the first version of a checklist of
geoindicators. These have been compiled as tools for tracking changes in
the dominantly abiotic components of forest, aquatic, desert, coastal,
polar, mountain and other terrestrial ecosystems.
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An
annual report by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR)
of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). Our Changing Planet
describes the US Global Change Research Program for FY 1997. Federal
Agency activities and funding levels are presented.
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The Program Guide provides information on the types of research and
development activities that are supported by Federal agencies in the area
of environment and natural resources, the mechanisms used by agencies to
select R&D recipients of Federal R&D dollars, and potential funding
opportunities.
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This Technical Paper provides an overview and analysis of technologies and
measures to limit and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to enhance
GHG sinks under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(FCCC). The paper focuses on technologies and measures for the countries
listed in Annex I of the FCCC, while noting information as appropriate for
use by non- Annex I countries. Technologies and measures are examined over
three time periods -- with a focus on the short term (present to 2010) and
the medium term (2010-2020), but also including a discussion of
longer-term (e.g., 2050) possibilities and opportunities.
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Report of a forum arranged by the Subcommittee on Global Change Research (SGCR)
assessing the state of current progress in improving understanding of
global change and providing direction for future research.
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Documents the significant achievements made by 21 of the 55 countries that
are conducting climate change country studies with support from the U.S.
Country Studies Program. The reports discuss methods and results for
inventories of sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, assessments of
climate change vulnerability and adaptive responses, and evaluations of
mitigation options to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases.
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(Statements) |
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A
statement by Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the UNEP, at the
Oslo Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Production and Consumption (8
Feb 1995).
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An
annual report by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Research (CENR) of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). Our
Changing Planet describes the US Global Change Research Program for FY
1996. Federal Agency activities and funding levels are presented.
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Because of Antarctica's potential importance, and the many processes by
which it might contribute to sea level, our analysis of this ice sheet is
somewhat more detailed than those employed by the previous EPA and IPCC
assessments of future sea level rise. Studies not designed to forecast sea
level in specific years, however, have employed several models at various
levels of complexity. We briefly summarize some of those previous models.
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Given the concentrations of greenhouse gases and resulting radiative
forcings during particular years, projections of sea level rise require
two types of climatic information: (1) Estimates of the downward
penetration of heat for calculating the thermal expansion of ocean water;
and (2) estimates of polar air temperatures, water temperatures, sea ice,
and precipitation changes for calculating the glacial contribution to sea
level.
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This analysis is based on the IPCC assumptions for emissions and
concentrations, as updated by Wigley and Raper (1992). That analysis
considers seven greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, CFC-11, CFC-12, HCFC-22,
and HFC-134a) as well as three gases with important indirect effects on
climate (SO2, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds). For all
gases other than CFC-11, CFC-12, and SO2, we characterize (anthropogenic)
emission rates through the year 2100 using lognormal distributions with
the geometric means and standard deviations calculated from the six
emission scenarios from IPCC (1992). For the two CFCs, we used the IPCC
scenarios directly0; for SO2, we used only the medium scenario from Wigley
and Raper (1992).
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If the Greenland Ice Sheet melted completely, sea level would rise 7.6
meters (Hollin and Barry 1979). Even with today's climate, the ice sheet
is melting at a rate greater than the annual snowfall in places where the
surface is within about fifteen hundred meters of sea level. This
elevation, where melting and snowfall are equal, is known as the
"equilibrium line." The ice sheet continues to exist because most of the
ice sheet is above the equilibrium line.
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In the last several years, a steady stream of reports has estimated that
the rate of sea level rise is likely to accelerate in the next century
(EPA 1983; NRC 1983; NRC 1985; IPCC 1990; Wigley and Raper 1992). As a
result, coastal decision makers around the world have gradually begun to
consider how to respond. In many cases, no immediate response is
necessary, because the time required to implement a response is less than
the time likely to pass before the sea rises significantly (NRC 1987).
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The Earth's average surface temperature has risen approximately 0.6oC
(1oF) in the last one hundred years, and the nine warmest years have all
occurred since 1980.Many climatologists believe that increasing
atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other gases released by
human activities are warming the Earth by a mechanism commonly known as
the "greenhouse effect." Nevertheless, this warming effect appears to be
partly offset by the cooling effect of sulfate aerosols, which reflect
sunlight back into space.
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Results of a National Research Council review of the U.S. Global Change
Research Program with specific focus on the NASA Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE)
and Earth Observing System (EOS) programs in light of budgetary pressures.
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The mission of EPA's Office of Research and Development includes
identifying and quantifying the risks associated with stratospheric ozone
depletion; working cooperatively with the private sector to catalyze
development of safe alternative chemicals and technologies; and studying
both natural and human-induced effects on the Earth's atmosphere.
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(Conference Proceedings) |
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Proceedings of a conference sponsored by the Center for Environmental
Information, Inc., 4-5 Dec 1995, Washington, D.C. Climate change
scientists addressed the following topics: The Climate Change Phenomenon
and Sustainability; Sustainability and Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation
and Mitigation Options; Sustainable Development and Climate Change:
Economic Assessment: Sustainable Development and Climate Change: Science
for Policy in the Face of Uncertainty.
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An
annual report by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Research (CENR) of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). Our
Changing Planet describes the US Global Change Research Program for FY
1995. Federal Agency activities and funding levels are presented.
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A
report by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Research (CENR),
the Global Change Data and Information System (GCDIS) Implementation Plan
describes the coordinated effort being undertaken by participating federal
agencies to implement the GCDIS.
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The Clinton Administration's Action Plan for meeting the twin challenges
of responding to the threat of global environmental change while
simultaneously strengthening the economy.
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http://www.gcrio.org/USCCAP/toc.html |
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The overall purpose of these policy statements is to facilitate full and
open access to quality data for global change research. They were prepared
in consonance with the goal of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and
represent the U. S. Government's position on the access to global change
research data.
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Complete text of Public Law 101-606, which establishes the U.S. Global
Change Research Program (USGCRP).
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This fourth of a series of yearly publications represents another
important step in this interagency process of making the data and
information related to the Global Change Research Program available. It is
particularly needed at this time since the users of this data and
information have expanded from being primarily researchers to being a full
mix that also includes educators, those making assessments of potential
effects of global change, the commercial world, and the public as well as
policy makers at all levels. To help the user of this publication find the
data in which they are most interested, the data has been separated into
subject categories. This page lists available data sets concerning the
Atmosphere category (Aerosols, Atmospheric chemistry, Climate, Clouds,
Weather).
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U.S. Agency Grants and Contracts * Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Funding
Programs * Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy * Department
of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Grants and Contracts * Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Global Warming Financial Assistance *
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants and Fellowship Information *
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Center for Environmental
Research and Quality Assurance Grants and Contracts * Geological Survey (USGS)
Contracts and Grants Information * National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS) Grants and Contracts * National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Grants Information
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The availability of clean, affordable energy is essential for the
prosperity and security of the United States and the world in the 21st
century. About 85% of U.S. energy is derived from fossil fuels, and
continued reliance by the U.S. - and the world - is forecast well into the
21st century. At the same time, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change has stated that '. . . the balance of evidence suggests that there
is a discernable human influence on global climate.'
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This report provides an overview of the work conducted by developing and
transition countries participating in the U.S. Country Studies Program.
Under this program, participating countries evaluated climate change
mitigation options, assessed their vulnerability to climate change,
identified methods for adapting to climate change, and developed plans for
responding to climate change.
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Answers some of the most commonly asked questions about climate change,
including whether the Earth has warmed, which human activities are
contributing to climate change, what further climatic changes are expected
to occur, and what effects these changes may have on humans and the
environment.
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SUMMARY: Malawi is one of the countries that have ratified the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Under this
Convention, parties to the Convention must communicate to the Conference
of the Parties (COP) their national inventories of anthropogenic emissions
of all greenhouse gases by sources and sinks using comparative
methodologies. With financial assistance from the United States Country
Studies Program (U.S.CSP) to address climate change, Malawi intends to
develop a baseline for greenhouse gas data suitable for scientific
understanding of the relationship between gas emissions and climate
change. Additionally, Malawi will assess the vulnerability of important
sectors (water, agriculture, and wildlife) to climate change impacts and
recommend adaptation and mitigation measures. This report describes the
four study elements of the country studies, i.e., specific objectives and
methodologies that will be employed. Since this study has just been
initiated, no results are reported but a description of the use into which
the expected results will be put is given. The necessity to study the
impacts of climate change on both the quantity and quality of water
resources cannot be overemphasized. Although Malawi may be considered
generally rich in water resources, the distribution is not even. Therefore
there is a pressing need to adopt sound and sustainable management
practices of water resources to avert the threat posed by changes in
climate.
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SUMMARY: This paper reports the results of the crop vulnerability and
adaptation element of Zimbabwe's country study. Global Climate Models (GCMs)
and dynamic crop growth models were used to assess the potential effects
of climate change on agriculture in Zimbabwe. These effects were estimated
for maize, since maize is the most widely grown crop in Zimbabwe. Its
growth is increasingly coming under stress due to high temperature and low
rainfall conditions. Projected climate change causes simulated maize
yields to decrease dramatically under dryland conditions in some regions
(in some cases up to 30 percent), even under full irrigation conditions.
The reduction in modeled maize yields are primarily attributed to
temperature increases that shorten the crop growth period, particularly
the grain-filling period. Broadly speaking, the duration of crop growth
becomes shorter, thereby causing dramatic negative effects on yields. The
simulated yield decreases in some regions are partially offset by the
effect of increased CO2 on plant physiology. There are several potential
adaptation strategies that may be used to offset the negative impacts of
climate change on maize yields. These include switching to drought-
tolerant small grains and maize varieties, and appropriate management
practices. Some farmers might suffer because of relatively severe local
climatic changes, while farmers in other areas might benefit through
improved yields and/or higher prices as a result of favorable local
climatic conditions. Rapid geographical shifts in the agricultural land
base could disrupt rural communities and their associated infrastructure.
More research is called for to generate technologies that equip farmers to
adapt to the effects of climate change.
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"Dr. Global Change" is a reference service that assists
domestic and international researchers, students, educators, resource
managers, policymakers, and the general public in finding information
and data relevant to global environmental change. Staff from the US
Global Change Research Information Office at CIESIN
(CIESIN implemented GCRIO at the time the award was made), along with
staff from U.S. Government agencies, provides answers to questions
related to climate change science. GCRIO provides access to data and
information on climate change research, adaptation/mitigation strategies
and technologies, and global change related educational resources
on behalf of the US Climate Change Science Program and its participating
Federal Agencies.
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A
publication prepared by researchers in the Department of Engineering and
Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University to explain the issue of global
warming and climate change to a general audience. Issues addressed
include: The science of global warming; the potential impacts of climate
change, and the range of policy responses to the threat of climate change.
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Selected Calendars of Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars Focusing on the
Environment and Global Change * Global Change Data and Information System
(GCDIS) Conference Calendar * American Public Power Association (APPA)
Meetings/Events Calendar * Environment News Service Events Calendar *
Geological Society of America Calendar of Scientific Meetings * Geotimes
Events Calendar * IISD Linkages Climate Change Calendar * Open GIS
Consortium Conference and Event Calendar * US Department of State/OES
Calendar of International Events and Meetings * The World Bank Calendar of
Environmental and Pollution Regulation Conferences
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What's happening to stratospheric ozone over the Arctic, and why? Is
Arctic stratospheric ozone undergoing depletion? USGCRP Seminar, 14 July
2000 (255KB PDF file)
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"...My Administration takes the issue of global climate change very
seriously...As you know, I oppose the Kyoto Protocol because it exempts 80
percent of the world, including major population centers such as China and
India, from compliance, and would cause serious harm to the U.S.
economy..."
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The Carbon Cycle Science Plan (CCSP) presented in this document has
several fundamental motivations. First, it is clear that the oceans and
land ecosystems have responded in measurable ways to the atmospheric
increase in carbon dioxide, but the associated mechanisms are still not
well quantified. Second, the land and ocean sinks and sources appear to
fluctuate naturally a great deal over time and space, and will likely
continue to vary in ways that are still unknown. Third, to predict the
behavior of Earth's climate system in the future, we must be able to
understand the functioning of the carbon system and predict the evolution
of atmospheric CO2. Finally, scientific progress over the past decade has
enabled a new level of integrated understanding that is directly relevant
to critical societal questions associated with the economic and
environmental effects of forestry, agriculture, land use and energy use
practices.
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The U.S. Department of State reports that the United States achieved a 2.7
percent decline in greenhouse gas emissions in 2000, demonstrating the
government's action to address the problem of climate change. The State
Department released a fact sheet on U.S. actions to control emissions as
an international meeting on climate change began in New Delhi October 23.
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