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Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology Committee on Earth Sciences Chairman Dallas Peck, Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey Vice-Chairman Richard G. Johnson, Office of Science and Technology Policy (Consultant) Executive Secretary Raymond Watts, Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey Members: A. Alan Hill, Council on Environmental Quality Frederick Bernthal, Department of State Joseph R. Wright, Jr., Office of Management and Budget Beverly Berger, Office of Science and Technology Policy Orville Bentley, United States Department of Agriculture Erich Bretthauer, Environmental Protection Agency Dale E. Myers, National Aeronautics and Space Administration George Millburn, Department of Defense Robert Hunter, Department of Energy William Evans, Department of Commerce S. Fred Singer, Department of Transportation Erich Bloch, National Science Foundation (See Appendix A for the CES Charter) EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS: I am pleased to forward with this letter the research strategy report of the Committee on Earth Sciences (CES) of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology. The report, "Our Changing Planet: A U.S. Strategy for Global Change Research," is the product of an intense interagency effort by experts in various earth sciences and other disciplines. This report, which has benefited greatly from close interaction between CES and the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Global Change, outlines the goals, implementation strategy, and research budget of the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The report accompanies the President's FY 1990 Budget. The strategy will be further expanded into a detailed, comprehensive research plan in 1989. Changes in the Earth system such as desertification, drought, volcanism, and global warming can have tremendous economic and societal impact. The relative roles of human activity and natural phenomena in global change are of great importance but are, at present, scientifically undefined. Improving our ability to understand and to predict global changes, whether natural or human-induced, is essential for providing our Nation with a sound basis for developing policies and response strategies. An effective and well-coordinated federal research program is crucial to this effort. The program must be both national and international, since global change crosses political as well as physical boundaries. The Committee on Earth Sciences' report provides an excellent foundation for the comprehensive research plan being developed and provides a keystone for planning for many decades to come. Chairman Dallas Peck and his interagency committee members, associates, and staff have done an excellent job and should be commended. Sincerely, William R. Graham William R. Graham Director
