Climate change science and the development of environment/energy policies

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:182781

Bernabo, J C ^[1]

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1. Science and Policy Associates, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)

For the past decade climate research in the US has focused on long-term-understanding of earth systems rather than addressing the more immediate information needs of decision makers, such as information on impacts and solutions. During the Bush Administration, the primary objective was to determine if there was a problem, with little emphasis on developing information on what to do about the issue. The Clinton Administration is trying to refocus research to assist more effectively in decision making. This reevaluation is part of the post-Cold War shift toward funding federal research based more explicitly on the relevancy to societal needs. The Joint Climate Project to Address Decision Makers` Uncertainties was sponsored by EPRI, DOE, DOI, EPA, USDA, and USFS to assess what information is most relevant for decision making and how research could address those needs. The results of this stakeholders` needs assessment are being used to help reorient the federal program. Decision makers` priorities include greater emphasis on impacts and responses. More work is required in the ecological and social sciences to provide information for policy making. Researchers periodically need to provide interim information and policy-relevant assessments while continuing to improve long-term scientific understanding.

• OSTI ID: 182781
• Report Number(s): CONF-940426--; ISBN 0-923204-11-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DATA
ENERGY POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS