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Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change (National Research Council) PDF

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http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html We ship printed books within 1 business day; personal PDFs are available immediately. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change America's Climate Choices: Panel on Informing Effective Decisions and Actions Related to Climate Change ISBN: 0-309-14595-3, 348 pages, 7 x 10, (2010) This PDF is available from the National Academies Press at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html Visit the National Academies Press online, the authoritative source for all books from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council: • Download hundreds of free books in PDF • Read thousands of books online for free • Explore our innovative research tools – try the “Research Dashboard” now! • Sign up to be notified when new books are published • Purchase printed books and selected PDF files Thank you for downloading this PDF. If you have comments, questions or just want more information about the books published by the National Academies Press, you may contact our customer service department toll- free at 888-624-8373, visit us online, or send an email to Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change America’s Climate Choices: Panel on Informing Effective Decisions and Actions Related to Climate Change Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Division on Earth and Life Studies Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS • 500 Fifth Street, N.W. • Washington, DC 20001 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special compe- tences and with regard for appropriate balance. This study was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under contract number DG133R08CQ0062. Any opinions, fndings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily refect the views of the sponsor. International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-14594-7 (Book) International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-14594-5 (Book) International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-14595-4 (PDF) International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-14595-3 (PDF) Library of Congress Control Number: 2010940140 Copies of this report are available from the program offce: Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001 (202) 334-3512 Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu Cover images: Far left: © City of Palo Alto Middle left: courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration Middle right: Photo by Scott Bauer courtesy of National Wildlife Refuge Far right: courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Copyright 2010 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonproft, self-perpetuating society of distin- guished scholars engaged in scientifc and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientifc and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to se- cure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and educa- tion. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of fur- thering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing ser- vices to the government, the public, and the scientifc and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. www.national-academies.org Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html AMERICA’S CLIMATE CHOICES: PANEL ON INFORMING EFFECTIVE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE DIANA LIVERMAN (Co-Chair), University of Arizona, Tucson and Oxford University, United Kingdom. PETER RAVEN (Co-Chair), Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis DANIEL BARSTOW, Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Alexandria, Virginia ROSINA M. BIERBAUM, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor DANIEL W. BROMLEY, University of Wisconsin-Madison ANTHONY LEISEROWITZ, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut ROBERT J. LEMPERT, The RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California JIM LOPEZ,* Department of Housing and Urban Development EDWARD L. MILES, University of Washington, Seattle BERRIEN MOORE, III, Climate Central, Princeton, New Jersey MARK D. NEWTON, Dell, Inc., Round Rock, Texas VENKATACHALAM RAMASWAMY, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Princeton, New Jersey RICHARD RICHELS, Electric Power Research Institute, Inc., Washington, D.C. DOUGLAS P. SCOTT, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Springfeld KATHLEEN J. TIERNEY, University of Colorado at Boulder CHRIS WALKER, The Carbon Trust LLC, New York, New York SHARI T. WILSON, Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore NRC Staff MARTHA McCONNELL, Study Director LAUREN M. BROWN, Research Associate RICARDO PAYNE, Program Assistant DAVID REIDMILLER, Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Fellow *Asterisks denote members who resigned during the study process. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html Foreword: About America’s Climate Choices onvened by the National Research Council in response to a request from Congress (P.L. 110-161), America’s Climate Choices is a suite of fve coordinated Cactivities designed to study the serious and sweeping issues associated with global climate change, including the science and technology challenges involved, and to provide advice on the most effective steps and most promising strategies that can be taken to respond. The Committee on America’s Climate Choices is responsible for providing overall direction, coordination, and integration of the America’s Climate Choices suite of activi- ties and ensuring that these activities provide well-supported, action-oriented, and useful advice to the nation. The committee convened a Summit on America’s Climate Choices on March 30-31, 2009, to help frame the study and provide an opportunity for high-level input on key issues. The committee is also charged with writing a fnal re- port that builds on four panel reports and other sources to answer the following four overarching questions: • What short-term actions can be taken to respond effectively to climate change? • What promising long-term strategies, investments, and opportunities could be pursued to respond to climate change? • What are the major scientifc and technological advances needed to better understand and respond to climate change? • What are the major impediments (e.g., practical, institutional, economic, ethi- cal, intergenerational, etc.) to responding effectively to climate change, and what can be done to overcome these impediments? The Panel on Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change was charged to describe, analyze, and assess strategies for reducing the net future human infuence on climate. The panel’s report focuses on actions to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions and other human drivers of climate change, such as changes in land use, but also considers the international dimensions of limiting climate change. The Panel on Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change was charged to describe, analyze, and assess actions and strategies to reduce vulnerability; increase adaptive ii Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html F O R E W O R D capacity; improve resiliency; and promote successful adaptation to climate change in different regions, sectors, systems, and populations. The panel’s report draws on a wide range of sources and case studies to identify lessons learned from past experiences, promising current approaches, and potential new directions. The Panel on Advancing the Science of Climate Change was charged to provide a concise overview of past, present, and future climate change, including its causes and its impacts, and to recommend steps to advance our current understanding, including new observations, research programs, next-generation models, and the physical and human assets needed to support these and other activities. The panel’s report focuses on the scientifc advances needed both to improve our understanding of the intergrated-cli- mate system and to devise more effective responses to climate change. The Panel on Informing Effective Decisions and Actions Related to Climate Change was charged to describe and assess different activities, products, strategies, and tools for informing decision makers about climate change and helping them plan and execute effective, integrated responses. This report describes the different types of climate change-related decisions and actions being taken at various levels and in dif- ferent sectors and regions; and it develops a framework, tools, and practical advice for ensuring that the best available technical knowledge about climate change is used to inform these decisions and actions. America’s Climate Choices builds on an extensive foundation of previous and ongoing work, including National Research Council reports, assessments from other national and international organizations, the current scientifc literature, climate action plans by various entities, and other sources. More than a dozen boards and standing com- mittees of the National Research Council were involved in developing the study, and many additional groups and individuals provided additional input during the study process. Outside viewpoints were also obtained via public events and workshops (including the Summit), invited presentations at committee and panel meetings, and comments received through the study website, http://americasclimatechoices.org. Collectively, the America’s Climate Choices suite of activities involve more than 90 volun- teers from a range of communities including academia, various levels of government, business and industry, other nongovernmental organizations, and the international community. Responsibility for the fnal content of each report rests solely with the authoring panel and the National Research Council. However, the development of each report inluded input from and interactions with members of all fve study groups; the membership of each group is listed in Appendix E. iii Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12784.html Preface ow can America make more informed decisions about climate change? This was the question asked of the Panel on Informing Effective Decisions and HActions Related to Climate Change. We were challenged to identify the op- portunities and challenges associated with informing effective decisions and actions, including the different activities, products, strategies, and tools for informing decision makers about climate change and helping them plan and execute effective, integrated responses. We were asked to describe the different types of climate change-related decisions and actions being taken at various levels and in different sectors and regions and to review frameworks and tools for ensuring that the best available technical knowledge about climate change is used to inform these decisions and actions. Our frst challenge was to decide how to set the limits of our panel report given the broad statement of task, the limited time, and the potential for overlap with the work of the three other America’s Climate Choices panels. We also took into account input received during the public discussion of the study, especially suggestions about the signifcance of looking at decision makers beyond the Federal government and about the importance of communication and education. We soon recognized that an in- formed and effective national response to climate change requires that the widest possible range of decisions makers—public and private, national and local—have ac- cess to up-to-date and reliable information about current and future climate change, the impacts of such changes, the vulnerability to these changes, and the response strategies for reducing emissions and implementing adaptation. We also acknowl- edged the importance of information that is needed to assess whether the decisions or responses are successful or should be revised. We began our work with refections about America’s ability to face grand and com- plex challenges in the past, where a record of success and learning from experience provided us with an optimistic start to thinking about informing climate choices. We then examined the decisions and actions that have already been taken in relation to climate, who was making the decisions, and what tools and information they were using or lacking. Responding to our task statement we then turned to an assessment of frameworks and tools for making climate-related decisions and identifed two key types of information services that are needed in making decisions about climate change: (1) information about climate, climate impacts, and adaptation, and (2) infor- mation about greenhouse gas emissions and their management. We recognized that ix Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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