Addressing Global Climate Change
Federal Climate Science Program
The President requests nearly $2 billion in his FY 2005 budget for climate science research, with $238
million for the Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI), a 42 percent increase over the FY 2004
enacted level. Energy Secretary Abraham, Commerce Secretary Evans, and White House Science
Adviser Marburger released a 10-Year comprehensive Strategic Plan for the U.S. Climate Change
Science Program in July 2003. The plan describes a strategy for developing
knowledge of variability and change in climate and related environmental and
human systems, and for encouraging the application of this knowledge.
Secretary Evans also announced a $103 million two-year Federal initiative to
accelerate the deployment of new global observation technologies, focused on
oceans, atmospheric aerosols, and the carbon cycle. After reviewing the
Strategic Plan, the National Research Council commended its scope and
content, stating that [t]he plan articulates a guiding vision, is appropriately
ambitious, and is broad in scope. It encompasses activities related to areas of
longstanding importance as well as new or enhanced cross disciplinary efforts.
Advancing science on all fronts identified by the program will be of vital
importance to the nation.