Science and climate policy: A history lesson

Journal Article · · Issues in Science and Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5326335

Herrick, C N

As a nation, the authors are engaged in a great deal of soul searching about the consequences of possible global climate change, aware that the authors must make choices but unsure when to make them or what they should be. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the first time that the nation will have to make major policy decisions based on the possibility of human-induced climate change. More than 100 years ago, the US government encouraged wide-scale settlement and development of the West, partly because of a scientifically grounded belief that early Western pioneers had caused the climate to become moister. Today, the US Global Climate Research Program has embarked on the task of resolving the many scientific uncertainties. As Powell learned a century ago, however, such information is critical but not sufficient to determining how a nation might respond to risk. If global climate research and assessment are to be driven by social relevance rather than scientific curiosity, these studies must reflect sociocultural as well as physical factors.

• OSTI ID: 5326335
• Journal Information: Issues in Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Issues in Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 8:2; ISSN 0748-5492; ISSN ISTEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290301 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety-- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects-- (1992-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DECISION MAKING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS