Policy history of the US Global Change Research Program: Part I. Administrative development

Abstract

a synthesis based on materials found in the public record (notably Congressional and administrative documents), published analyses and interviews with numerous outside observers, as well as individuals closely involved with the program, from their perspectives on science, administration, and policy. Interviews were conducted over the period 1993}1997, some on record and some o! record. I have chosen not to identify by name many interview sources cited in the text out of consideration for their candor and in recognition that the US Global Change Research program is an ongoing e!ort with many interviewees having continued involvement in the Program. In the text the interviews are cited simply as ([I]interview with [A]uthor [year]), e.g. (IA, 1994). See Pielke (1995) for an appraisal of USGCRP implementation through 1994. *Corresponding author. Tel: #1-303-497-8111; fax: #1-303-4978125. E-mail address: rogerp@ucar.edu (R.A. Pielke Jr). 1 The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. 2Hansen testied to three main points: (1) that 1988 was the warmest year on record (of the past 100 years), (2) there was a high degree of condence that warming was caused by human activities, and (3) that computer models indicated that the greenhouse e!ect was already large enough to result in extreme events like summer heat waves. Global Environmental Change 10 (2000) 9}25