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Areas of Global Change Research. EPA’s Global Change Research Program is currently undergoing a major redirection towards a more assessment-oriented program, with primary emphasis on understanding the potential consequences of climate variability and change on human health, ecosystems, and socioeconomic systems in the United States. The above table reflects the fundamental change in the program over the three-year period. Assessments will also be made of potential opportunities to adapt to climate change in order to reduce the risks, or take advantage of the opportunities, presented by climate variability and change. All of ORD’s program in FY 1999 falls within the "Human Dimensions of Global Change" program element.
FY 2000 Program Highlights. The increase requested in FY 2000 will be added to the base program in order to conduct research and assessment activities that examine the potential effects of climate variability and change. Most of the program ($20.0 million) falls within the "Human Dimensions of Global Change" program and includes work in the following areas: (1) human health (including the mortality and morbidity effects of heat stress; effects of climate change on air and water quality and the consequent health effects; the potential spread of infectious diseases; the potential health consequences of extreme events such as hurricanes and coastal storm surges; and changes in nutrition due to effects on agriculture and food distribution); (2) air quality (including changes in concentrations of ozone and particulate matter), and the ability of urban areas to attain air quality standards; (3) water quantity and quality; and (4) the frequency, intensity, and socioeconomic impacts of extreme weather events (including floods, droughts and hurricanes). A portion ($3.0 million) of ORD’s requested increase in FY 2000 will be applied to the "Biology and Biogeochemistry of Ecosystems" program element and includes research into the: (1) biology of ecosystems (particularly wildlife and biodiversity in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, nonindigenous species, unique ecosystems, National Parks; and effects on ecosystem services of high societal value); and (2) the effect on coastal zones as a result of sea level rise.
All of these climate-induced changes will be assessed in the context of multiple stressors; that is, climate change will be viewed as one of many stressors, including non-climate-related stressors. For example, the synergistic effects of climate change and UV-B exposure on human health and ecosystems will be assessed. The research and assessment program will also increasingly focus on adaptation to climate change and climate variability.
As part of the USGCRP, the research and assessment program will make significant contributions to the ongoing U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. EPA is sponsoring the Mid-Atlantic Regional Assessment, the Great Lakes Regional Assessment, the Gulf Coast Regional Assessment, and the Health Sector Assessment. These assessments will be conducted through a public-private partnership that actively engages researchers from the academic community, decision makers, resource managers, and other affected stakeholders in the assessment process. The first of several National Assessment Reports will be delivered to Congress in January 2000.
The research and assessment activities will also evaluate the potential co-control benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation policies (i.e., the additional changes in criteria air and water pollutants that occur as greenhouse gas emissions are reduced), and the potential co-control benefits of policies to reduce criteria air pollutants (i.e., the additional changes in greenhouse gases that occur as criteria air pollutant emissions are reduced). The resulting health and welfare effects of the changes in criteria air pollutants, water pollutants, and greenhouse gases will be assessed.
Related Research. In addition to the focused USGCRP research activities, EPA conducts contributing research to characterize and understand risks to ecosystems and to understand and predict ecosystems exposures, responses, and vulnerabilities to high-risk chemicals and non-chemical stressors at multiple scales of biological organization and geographic scales. Relevant research into the global nitrogen cycle, although not funded with USGCRP-based funds, will contribute to our understanding of the nitrogen cycle and the impact of global change on the process of nitrification.
Mapping of Budget request to Appropriation Legislation. In the Departments
of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent
Agencies Appropriations Bill, Environmental Protection Agency USGCRP activities
are funded under the EPA section of Title III - Independent Agencies, within
the Science and Technology account.