Carbon Dioxide Effects Research and Assessment Program. Environmental and societal consequences of a possible CO/sub 2//sup -/ induced climate change: a research agenda
In adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, mankind is unintentionally conducting a great biological and geophysical experiment. This experiment can be expected to increase scientific understanding of ecological systems and of the processes in the ocean and the atmosphere that partially determine world climate. But from the standpoint of governments and peoples, the major problem to be solved is to understand the nature of the impacts on societies of rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO/sub 2/), with the objective of avoiding or ameliorating unfavorable impacts and gaining most benefit from favorable impacts. The research program proposed herein is designed to provide the understanding needed to achieve this objective. It is based on a recognition of the distinctive characteristics of the CO/sub 2/ problem. It is concluded that three kinds of research on the consequences of rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and possible climatic changes are called for: assessment of risks; research to enhance beneficial effects and lessen harmful ones, where this is possible, and to slow down rates of carbon dioxide emission; and study of potential social and institutional responses to projected climatic changes.
- Research Organization:
- American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS01-79EV10019
- OSTI ID:
- 6728173
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/10019-01(Vol.1)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CARBON DIOXIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
SOCIAL IMPACT
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RECOMMENDATIONS
AGRICULTURE
CLIMATES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GLOBAL ASPECTS
RISK ASSESSMENT
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
INDUSTRY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
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