Transmittal Letter to
Members of Congress
July 2003
Members of Congress:
Transmitted herewith is a copy of The U.S. Climate Change Science
Program: Vision for the Program and Highlights of the Scientific Strategic
Plan. The vision document provides an overview of the Climate Change
Science Program (CCSP) long-term strategic plan to enhance scientific
understanding of global climate change. This document is a companion to
the comprehensive Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program.
The Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program
responds to the President's direction that climate change research
activities be accelerated to provide the best possible scientific
information to support public discussion and decisionmaking on
climate-related issues. The plan also responds to Section 104 of the
Global Change Research Act of 1990, which mandates the development and
periodic updating of a long-term national global change research plan
coordinated through the National Science and Technology Council. This is
the first comprehensive update of a strategic plan for U.S. global change
and climate change research since the original plan for the
U.S. Global
Change Research Program was adopted at the inception of the program in
1989.
The President established the U.S. Climate Change Science Program in
2002 as part of a new cabinet-level management structure to oversee public
investments in climate change science and technology. The new management
structure also includes the Climate Change Technology Program, which is
responsible for accelerating climate-related technology research and
development. The CCSP incorporates the U.S. Global Change Research
Program, established by the Global Change Research Act, and the
Climate
Change Research Initiative, established by the President in 2001. The
Program coordinates and integrates scientific research on global change
and climate change sponsored by 13 participating departments and agencies
of the U.S. Government.
The CCSP, under the direction of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Oceans and Atmosphere, reports through the Interagency Working Group
on Climate Change Science and Technology to the cabinet-level Committee on
Climate Change Science and Technology Integration. The chairmanship of
these coordinating bodies rotates annually between the Departments of
Commerce and Energy, with the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy serving as the Executive Director of the cabinet-level
committee.
The CCSP strategic plan, though disseminated by the Department of
Commerce, was developed through a multi-agency collaboration and has
benefited substantially from external review of an earlier discussion
draft by a special committee of the National Academy of Sciences --
National Research Council, as well as extensive public review by hundreds
of scientists and stakeholders. The strategic plan document contains a
more detailed discussion of the goals and priorities for the program and
how climate and global change research activities will be integrated.
The CCSP strategic plan reflects a commitment to high-quality research
that advances the frontiers of science and outlines an integrated approach
for developing an improved understanding of climate change and its
potential impacts. The program described in the vision and strategic plan
documents will meet the highest standards of credibility and transparency
to support public evaluation of climate change issues.
We thank the participating departments and agencies of the CCSP for
their close cooperation and support and look forward to working with
Congress in the continued development of these important programs.
Sincerely,
Spencer
Abraham
Secretary of Energy
Chair, Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration
Donald
L. Evans
Secretary of Commerce
Vice Chair, Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration
John H. Marburger III, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy
Executive Director, Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology
Integration
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