Among other comments, the NRC report offered the following key recommendations:

Program Support


"Assessing accurately the current state of the global environment and increasing our predictive capabilities to aid in anticipating how this environment may evolve are enduring challenges to science....The scientific and societal motivations of the program remain compelling, and [the USGCRP] should be aggressively pursued."

Program Integration


"The USGCRP must be implemented as an integrated program of observations, process research, modeling, prediction, information management, and assessment. In order to achieve this, enhanced collaboration and cooperation are required among the scientific community, the Congress, Federal agencies, and the Executive Office of the President to ensure that all elements of the program are considered in the context of the integrated program as a whole."

Program Priorities


"The program should focus on priority issues in four mature areas of Earth system science that are of great scientific and practical importance [seasonal to interannual climate prediction, atmospheric chemistry, ecosystems, and decadal to centennial climate.]"

"Implement the first group of Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE)/ Earth Observing System (EOS) components: Landsat-7, AM- 1, PM-1, Chemistry-1 (CHEM-1), and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)."

"Implement a future framework for MTPE that incorporates advanced instrumentation and vehicle technologies, such as small satellites and remotely piloted vehicles...."

"Streamline [and] reconfigure EOSDIS...."

Program Funding


"Success in attacking the long-term scientific challenges of the USGCRP requires an adequate and stable level of funding that promotes management efficiency and encourages rational resource allocation."

"The Congress should ensure that program authorizations and resource allocations to individual agencies are consistent with the implementation of an integrated program...[and] provide a mechanism for bipartisan, bicameral oversight of the effectiveness of the program in meeting the information needs of the Nation."