Western Governors: federal research dollars for climate change should focus more on adaptation (5/3/07)

Western Governors: federal research dollars for climate change should focus more on adaptation

DENVER - Federal research dollars directed towards climate change should focus more on assisting states, tribes and communities adapt to anticipated impacts, Western governors told the House Committee on Science and Technology today.

The Western Governors' Association testified in support of a bill sponsored by Reps. Mark Udall ( Colo.) and Bob Inglis (S.C.) that would reorient and fully fund the U.S. Global Change Research Program to make it more user-driven. Sarah Bittleman, D.C. Director for Gov. Ted Kulongoski ( Ore.), testified on behalf of WGA.f

The U.S. has spent considerable dollars on understanding the science of climate change, and we must now look to addressing and adequately funding the issue of adaptation, Bittleman said. The focus of the USGCRP research must now move with greater focus to help states, tribes and local governments understand what that means: How will climate change manifest itself in different areas of the country? What impacts can we expect at the state and local levels? How can we prepare for the change in an effort to avoid or mitigate the impacts? How can we most effectively implement adaptation measures given that many of them will require a long lead-time?

The governors listed numerous projected impacts from warming that will require considerable research and financial commitments to address:

• Smaller snowpacks and earlier snowmelt are likely, affecting reservoir storage and demand for water.
• More rain than snow is expected, but it is not understood whether overall precipitation will increase or decrease and in what areas.
• Extreme flood events could be more common and larger, requiring changes in flood control planning and mapping.
• Droughts would be more intense, frequent and last longer; higher temperatures would increase evaporation of streams and reservoirs; groundwater supplies would be stressed as surface water decreases; and water quality could be impacted by diminished streamflows and higher water temperatures.
• Wildfires could increase in their numbers and severity.
• More pests and disease could adversely impact public health, as well as forest and agriculture health.
• Greater investments in infrastructure would be necessary to adapt to rising sea levels.
• The productivity and value of hydroelectric generation could be impacted by the availability and timing of water resources.
• Decreases in river flows could reduce the periods when ship navigation is possible, resulting in increased transportation costs and conflicts over water allocated for other purposes.
• Additional species extinctions are possible for natural ecosystems and wildlife with limited ability to cope with climate changes over a relatively short time frame.
• Lower lake and stream-flow levels could significantly reduce recreation opportunities and harm economies.

Because a number of variables exist, it is not currently possible to predict or model with any precision if, how and when a particular area within the region may be impacted, Bittleman said. More flexible institutional arrangements are needed in order to adapt to changing conditions related to climate change and other existing stresses as well. Additionally, given the complex climatology in the West, it is important that climate change modeling be conducted at a much finer resolution, such as watersheds and subwatersheds.

The governors recommended the bill be amended to address the need for a National Climate Information Service to coordinate climate activities across the federal government. Additionally, the new service could provide routine assessments of climate impacts and vulnerabilities and develop relevant products and services for decision- and policy-makers.

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 19 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.

# # # # #