147 



THt PRESEVT :'AD SYSTIiM 49 



Box 3. U.S. Global Change Research Program 



The Federal Coordinating Council on Science. Engineering, and Tech- 

 nology (FCCSET), through its Committee on Earth Sciences (CES) estat>- 

 lished the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) in 1989. Be- 

 ginning with funding of $134 million in FY89. USGCRP has grown to $13 

 billion in 1992. The space- ano ground-based observation and assessment 

 capabilities are provided by a large number of federal agencies. Contribu- 

 tors to the focused research program Include NASA, NSF, NCAA, DOE, 

 USDA. OOI, and EPA. Tf>e Defense Department participates as well. 

 Representatives from tfie Council on Environmental Quality, the Depart- 

 ments of State and Transportation, the Office of Management and Budget, 

 and the White IHouse offices of Science and Technology Policy and of Policy 

 Development help provide executive oversight in addition to the participa- 

 tory agencies. 



The primary objectives of tf>e research program are to 



■ Document tfte global earth system 



■ Study the physical, geological, chemical, biological, and social 

 processes of the earth system 



■ Develop models of this system tor predicting future trends anC 

 Impacts 



Research priorities include studies of greenhouse gases, ozone deple- 

 tion, agriculture and ecosystems, and water policy. The goal of the program 

 is to develop a scientific understanding of these phenomena and their poten- 

 tial Impacts on human health and trte environment. 



Lack of Coordination: Consequences and Costs 



Without a central coordinating mechanism, it is also difficult to establish 

 budget priorities, conduct research efHciendy and cficctivcly, and then com- 

 municate the resulting data to those who can assess it and mold it into poliq'. 

 For example, it took a multiagency panel, the National Acid Precipitation 

 Assessment Program, more than ten yean to address the many associated 

 problems of acid rain, and the results of the project provided only weak 

 guidance for polic>' directions. ^'^ Com-ening a multiagcnq' panel for each 

 potential issue is not an efficient way of establishing a coordinating mech- 

 anism to address environmental problems. 



One consequence of a fragmented federal environmental R&D s>'stcm 

 is the difficulty of obtaining timely and useful information. Relatively new 

 environmental concerns such as acid rain and stratospheric ozone depletion 

 have brought to light the need to improve environmental monitoring and 

 statistical capabilities at the federal level. Without a system for compiling. 



