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Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change focuses on the role of the United States in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The book concludes that in order to ensure that all levels of government, the private sector, and millions of households and individuals are contributing to shared national goals, the United States should establish a "budget" that sets a limit on total domestic greenhouse emissions from 2010-2050. Research and development of new technologies that could help reduce emissions more cost effectively than current options is also strongly recommended.
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Consensus
·2010
Climate change, driven by the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, poses serious, wide-ranging threats to human societies and natural ecosystems around the world. The largest overall source of greenhouse gas emissions is the burning of fossil fuels. The global atmospheric...
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Description
In response to Public Law 110-161, the National Academies will conduct a series of coordinated activities to study the serious and sweeping issues associated with global climate change, including the science and technology challenges involved, and provide advice on the most effective steps and most promising strategies that can be taken to respond. This work will be led by a Committee on America's Climate Choices responsible for coordinating the work of four panels, convening a Summit, convening additional workshops or informal working groups to gather information and address cross-cutting issues, and writing a final report. Collectively, the activities will produce a broad, action-oriented, and authoritative set of analyses to inform and guide responses to climate change across the nation. To provide detailed analysis of important technical issues, focused panels will be convened to address each of the following four questions: 1. What can be done to limit the magnitude of future climate change? 2. What can be done to adapt to the impacts of climate change? 3. What can be done to better understand climate change and its interactions with human and ecological systems? 4. What can be done to inform effective decisions and actions related to climate change?This Panel on Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change will write a report on question 1. The panel will describe, analyze, and assess strategies for reducing the net future human influence on climate, including both technology and policy options (this is sometimes referred to as "mitigation of climate change"). The panel will focus on actions to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions and other human drivers of climate change, such as changes in land use, but will also consider the international dimensions of climate stabilization. The costs, benefits, limitations, tradeoffs, and uncertainties associated with different options and strategies should be assessed qualitatively and, to the extent practicable, quantitatively, using the scenarios of future climate change and vulnerability developed in coordination with the Committee on America's Climate Choices and the other panels. The panel will also keep abreast of the wide range of proposals currently being advanced by policymakers at a number of levels to limit the future magnitude of climate change, and strive to frame their recommendations in the context of these developments.The panel should also provide input to the Committee on America's Climate Choices on the following integrating questions:* What short-term actions can be taken to limit the magnitude of future climate change?* What promising long-term strategies, investments, and opportunities could be pursued to limit the magnitude of future climate change?* What are the major scientific and technological advances (e.g., new observations, improved models, research priorities, etc.) needed to limit the magnitude of future climate change?* What are the major impediments (e.g., practical, institutional, economic, ethical, intergenerational, etc.) to limiting the magnitude of future climate change, and what can be done to overcome these impediments?* What can be done to limit the magnitude of future climate change at different levels (e.g., local, state, regional, national, and in collaboration with the international community) and in different sectors (e.g., nongovernmental organizations, the business community, the research and academic communities, individuals and households, etc.)?This project is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).The approximate start date is October 1, 2008.A final report will be issued at the end of the project.
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Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: James Trainham
In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include among others, at least one person with a background in engineering and deep understanding of the dynamics of energy-related technological innovation and deployment within a private-sector setting.
To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Mr. James Trainham is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that he has a conflict of interest, due to his position working with firm that develops renewable energy technologies (Sundrop Fuels, Inc.), and his financial holdings in that firm.
As his biographical summary makes clear, Mr. Trainham’s has a long distinguished career in chemical engineering, having served as a global technology director of the DuPont Company, and Vice President , Science & Technology, PPG Industries with responsibilities including R&D for new products and processes and fundamental and end-use research. He is a technology innovator with over 40 patents and publications. He was elected to the NAE in 1997, and recently Chaired a National Academies study on sustainability in the chemical industry. We believe that Mr.Trainham can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.
After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of current practical experience and expertise as Mr. Trainham, who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.
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Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Robert Fri
In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established, its membership must include, among others, at least one individual with expertise in energy and environmental issues and experience in bringing that expertise to bear in leadership positions across the federal, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
To meet these needs, Mr. Robert Fri is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have determined that he has a conflict of interest because he owns a more than de minimus amount of stock in a major energy company (American Electric Power Company).
As his biographical summary makes clear, Mr. Fri is uniquely well-suited to lead the Panel on Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change. Mr. Fri has held leadership positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including five years as director of the National Museum of Natural History, seven years as president of the Energy Transition Company, and ten years as president of Resources for the Future (where he is presently affiliated as a visiting scholar). Fri has also served on numerous boards and advisory committees and is currently a member of the Committee on America’s Energy Future, which will serve as a key resource for both the Panel on Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change. This firsthand experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and familiarity with the work of related activities both inside and outside the National Academies is critical for the committee in meeting its task. We believe that Mr. Fri can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.
After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of experience and expertise as Mr. Fri who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.
Sponsors
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Staff
Laurie Geller
Lead
Major units and sub-units
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Lead
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
Lead
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