The U. S. Needs a Unified Global Warming Agency, As Other Nations Have

Summary. The previous post detailed the distributed administrative structures dealing with global warming in the U. S. government.  It identified several problems and difficulties arising from this situation.

Here, ministries and departments dealing with global warming in the European Union and selected  countries around the world are examined.  Among the countries examined, those in the developed world have a single ministry, or at most two, dedicated to the global warming issue and related concerns.  These structures effectively focus administrative effort on this topic in these countries.

It is concluded that the U. S. should revise its scattered administrative structure for dealing with global warming by establishing a cohesive cabinet-level department or agency.  The new entity would beneficially address global warming effectively: characterizing its worsening effects, and developing policies for mitigation and adaptation to its impacts.

Introduction.  The previous post presented details showing that disparate activities related to the issue of global warming are strewn among fourteen offices housed in thirteen federal departments and agencies of the U. S. government.  The post showed that this arrangement presents many problems and concerns.  In order to overcome these difficulties, it was proposed to unify all or most of these activities in a single cabinet-level department or agency.

Here, this post presents administrative information on energy and environment ministries and departments drawn from a selection of a regional transnational authority (the European Union (EU)), and sovereign nations from the EU and elsewhere around the world.

Global Warming Ministries in The European Union and Selected Nations Around the Globe

Ministries and similar agencies from the EU and nine nations were chosen to be described here.  Developed and developing countries from Europe, Asia and South America are considered.  (The choices that were made followed this writer’s inclinations and so are not random.  Every nation chosen is presented below; none was eliminated from presentation because of information developed during searching.)  Their ministries are summarized here.  More comprehensive descriptions appear in the Details section at the end of this post.

Developed Countries

The European Union

The EU is a political compact among, currently, 28 member nations.  Its executive organization is the European Commission, which interacts with the European Parliament to enact legislation and policies.

The European Environment Agency (EEA), an agency of the EU, provides information on the environment to other bodies of the EU so that relevant, unbiased background is available for policymakers and the public.

The European Commission has several subordinate Directorates-General, among which are those for Climate Action, Energy, and the Environment.  For example, the Directorate-General for the Environment developed the EU’s greenhouse gas mitigation policy (see Details).

Four EU nations were chosen for discussion here.

 

Germany has a cabinet-level Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.  Among its responsibilities is development of national environmental policy.

 

Germany also has a a Ministry of Economics and Energy whose responsibilities include promoting the security of the country’s energy supply and the environmental compatibility of its energy.

The United Kingdom (UK) has a cabinet-level Department of Energy and Climate Change concerned with developing its energy supply, promoting energy efficiency, and overseeing the UK’s diplomacy related to international climate policy.

The UK also has a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whose areas of practice include climate change and sustainability of resources.

Sweden has a Ministry of the Environment whose responsibilities include climate policy and environmental legislation; as well as a Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications whose tasks include providing energy security for the nation.

Norway has a Ministry of the Environment that includes Departments for Climate Change, and Nature Management, among others.  It also has a Ministry of Petroleum and Energy responsible for energy production.

 

Japan has a cabinet-level Ministry of the Environment.  Its motto is to work “towards a lifestyle that could be passed on to generations 100 years from now.”  Japan recognizes that global warming is a long-term problem.  It believes the experience gained in its recent economic development can be applied internationally to mitigate greenhouse gas  emissions.

Japan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources includes responsibility for developing energy and mineral resources in an environmentally sound way.

Australia’s Ministry of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency promotes policies for the mitigation of and adaptation to global warming from greenhouse gases, as well as developing the country’s policies in international negotiations on warming.

Its Ministry of the Environment focuses on preserving Australia’s natural environment.

Developing Countries

The nations from the developing world discussed below were chosen for consideration because some of them are among the nations with the highest annual rates of emission of greenhouse gases in the world, and/or the highest rates of growth in those emissions. 

China’s administrative structure (on the English language website) did not readily show a ministry or department related to the issue of global warming, nor for energy.  The China Renewable Energy Scale-Up Program participates in international efforts in this area.  Its Ministry of Environmental Protection works under the State Council to develop policies for environmental protection, including protection from environmental pollution and for development of natural resources.

India has a National Action Plan on Climate Change, issued in 2008, having eight committees, or Missions, with specified tasks.  The missions report directly to the Prime Minister.

India has a Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.  There is also a Ministry of Power overseeing production and distribution of power.

Brazil has a Ministry of the Environment, devoted to protecting and preserving the nation’s environment, and sustainable use of its resources. 

The Ministry of Mines and Energy has the objective of promoting sustainable environmental policies while assuring the supply of energy and natural resources.

Indonesia has a Ministry of Forestry that includes the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation.

Generalizations from this worldwide selection of nations suggest that nations in the developed world have well-defined administrative structures devoted to, or involved in, assessing global warming and its effects, as well as developing and implementing meaningful policies for mitigation of and adaptation to global warming.  In general the ministries and departments examined here concentrate all or most of the administrative functions needed for addressing global warming into a single, or in some cases two, ministries or departments.

(The developing countries considered here appear not to have as well-developed administrative structures, at least apparent to the internet researcher,  as do those for countries in the developed world.  Furthermore, they appear not to have strong mechanisms for developing and implementing policies that mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions.) 

Conclusion

The previous post detailed the distributed administrative structures in the U. S. federal government involved in various aspects of global warming research, climate policy development, and implementation of rules and programs governing greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency.  The post identified several critical problems and difficulties arising from this arrangement, and concluded that a single cabinet-level department or agency should be created solely devoted to most or all aspects of the global warming issue.

The cases of the European Union and nations from the developed world presented here provide examples of single, or at most two, cabinet-level ministries dealing with global warming and its impacts on society.  Their integrated administrative structures minimize the problems identified in the U. S. federal government arising from the fact that disparate offices and bureaus, residing in several different departments and agencies, address various aspects of the global warming issue.

It is concluded that in order to develop effective global warming policy, the U. S. should reorganize all or most of these disparate activities into a new Department or Agency dealing exclusively with global warming, its causes, characteristics and impacts.  The examples from the developed world discussed here generally have such integrated administrative structures.   The new entity would evaluate the worsening trends related to warming, and formulate unified policies addressing both the mitigation of, and adaptation to, global warming at the national and international levels.

Details

Developed Countries

The European Union

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is an agency of the European Union (EU). Its task is to provide sound, independent information on the environment. It is a major information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public.

The European Commission is the high level body for the European Union, formulating policy proposals presented to the European Parliament for action.  The European Commission has several Directorates-General (DG), including those for Climate Action, Energy and the Environment.

The DG for Climate Action assembled the 20-20-20 goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions: a 20% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels; producing 20% of the EU’s energy from renewable sources; and improving energy efficiency by 20%; by 2020.

The DG for Energy sets up an energy market for Europe, and promotes sustainable energy production and use consistent with the EU emissions goal for 2020.

The DG for the Environment oversees enforcement of EU environmental law.

Any act passed by the European Parliament is implemented by passing corresponding legislation in each member nation.  Examples of some European national-level environmental or global warming agencies are presented here.

Germany has a cabinet-level Ministry of for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.  Its responsibilities include

Fundamental national environmental policy,

Informing and educating the public about environmental issues,

Environmental remediation and development in Eastern Germany, and

Climate protection and energy.

Germany also has a Ministry of Economics and Energy whose objective is promoting economic efficiency, security of supply and environmental compatibility of its energy.  The Ministry formulates and implements energy policy.

United Kingdom: The cabinet-level Department of Energy and Climate Change assures responsible development of energy sources for the UK, promotes energy efficiency, and develops international approaches for limiting climate change.  It oversees the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs develops strategies for

Climate change, adaptation and energy use; and

Sustainable consumption and production; among others.

Sweden: The Ministry of the Environment has responsibilities that include, among others,

Climate policy,

Environmental quality objectives,

Environmental legislation, and

Sustainable Development.

Sweden’s Ministry of Enterprise, Energy andCommunications includes responsibility for assuring an efficient energy system at competitive prices.

Norway: The Royal Norwegian Ministry of the Environment is specifically responsible for carrying out the environmental policies of the Government.  Among its sections are

Department for Climate Change,

Department for Marine Management and Pollution Control, and

Department for Nature Management.

Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy oversees energy production and usage.  Much of Norway’s energy is derived from hydropower.

Japan: The cabinet-level Ministry of the Environment has 10 interrelated policy guidelines with the overall objective of integrating policies that secure a sustainable environment while developing the economy and promoting the wellbeing of society.  Its policy is to work “towards a lifestyle that could be passed on to generations 100 years from now.”  In order to reduce the nation’s burden on the environment while still ensuring a high quality of life for all, “it is necessary for each one of us to think about how we can lead a rich and eco-friendly life….”  The environmental policy recognizes that Japan must work with all peoples of the world, including applying the experience gained in the development of Japan’s economy to those nations now undergoing development.  Global warming is a long-term problem, requiring a time horizon of at least 50 years  to achieve emission reduction goals. 

Japan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has the mission of managing development of energy and mineral resources in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.

Australia has the following ministries.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency promotes policies for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to global warming already under way, promotion of energy efficiency and development of Australia’s positions in global negotiations on warming.

The Ministry of the Environment is devoted to preservation and protection of Australia’s natural environment.

The Ministry of Industry includes a Department of Industry whose charge is to integrate policies in industry, energy, resources and skills to promote economic growth and competitiveness.

Developing Countries

China: The mission of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China includes

Developing laws, regulations and assessments, as endowed by the State Council, for environmental protection.  Protection from pollution extends to air, water, soil, marine areas and vehicle emissions, among others.  In addition the Ministry oversees development and utilization of natural resources affecting the environment.  The Ministry also develops environmental standards and capabilities for environmental measurements.  It also generates basic principles that come to bear on global environmental issues, participating in and coordinating negotiations on international environmental conventions. 

The China Renewable Energy Scale-Up Program appears to participate in an international program in renewable energy.  Its web page shows date stamped entries of news items up to June 2013.  It is not clear how it fits into the national administrative structure. 

There appears to be no ministry dealing with energy.
 

India: India issued a National Action Plan on Climate Change in 2008. Important components include the National Missions for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change, Solar (Energy), Enhanced Energy Efficiency, and various missions for aspects of sustainability and reforestation.  These are found within a Council on Climate Change reporting directly to the Prime Minister.

India’s Ministry of Power oversees generation and distribution of power, including from thermal and hydro generation sources.

India also has a Ministry of New and Renewable Energy whose aim is to develop and deploy new and renewable energy sources to supplement the country’s energy needs.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has the goals of preserving the nation’s natural resources and reducing pollution.

An Energy Planning Commission in India seeks to unify development of the nation’s energy policy.  India recognizes “the need for an integrated energy policy because the responsibility for different energy sources is distributed over a number of different Ministries, e.g. Petroleum, Coal, Power, Water Resources (in the case of hydroelectricity), Atomic Energy and New & Renewable Energy.”

Brazil: The Ministry of the Environment has the goal of protecting and restoring the country’s environment, and of the sustainable use of its natural resources.  The ministry is responsible for developing policy for the environment and water resources, for preservation, conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems, for improving environmental quality and for sustainable use of natural resources.

Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has as its mission “to guarantee the supply of energy and mineral resources…and promote …sustainable environmental and economically viable policies.”

This writer did not find an administrative body directed toward global warming.

Indonesia:  The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources promotes security of energy supply and production of minerals.

The Ministry of Forestry includes the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation.        

© 2014 Henry Auer

The U.S. Needs a Single Department/Agency Dedicated to Global Warming

Summary.  The National Climate Assessment Development Advisory Committee issued a draft version of its Third National Climate Assessment in 2013.  The Committee is drawn from bureaus and divisions within thirteen diverse federal departments and agencies.  Its mission is to report on scientific information and assessments thereof related to global warming, but does not include a mandate to formulate policy.

These and other aspects of the Committee’s composition and responsibilities lead to identification of several administrative problems and deficiencies.

This post recommends that in order to overcome these difficulties a single cabinet-level department or agency be created solely devoted to most or all aspects of the global warming issue.  This new entity critically should be charged with proposing policies addressing mitigation of and adaptation to further global warming.

The National Climate Assessment Development Advisory Committee (NCADAC) issued a draft version of its Third National Climate Assessment (NCA) in 2013.  The NCADAC was established in 2010 under terms of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972.  It is housed in the Department of Commerce under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  The NCADAC consists of 60 members.  Forty-five senior authors drawn from academic, nonprofit and consulting organizations prepared the report.  240 other scientists and professionals assisted the NCADAC.  The work was coordinated by fourteen ex officio members drawn from thirteen federal agencies.  These are the logos of the participating departments and agencies:

Source: http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/

 

In turn the NCA is authorized under the Global Change Research Act of 1990  (the Act) to “assist the nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change”.  It is assembled in the Global Change Research Program.   A principal objective of the Act is to “improve cooperation among Federal agencies and departments with respect to global change research activities”.  In addition, every four years it is to prepare an assessment for the President and Congress that (1) evaluates and interprets its results, including scientific uncertainties, (2) analyzes effects of global change on the environment and on an extensive range of human economic and social activities, and (3) analyzes current natural and man-made trends and offers projections of future trends for up to 100 years.  It is noteworthy that its tasks do not include formulation of policies to address global warming.

 

The draft NCA was open for comments for a time, and its final version in response to comments received is in preparation.  Links to the full draft report, as well as to each chapter individually, are available here.

 

Thirteen Federal Departments and Agencies

As noted above, official government participation in the preparation of the NCA comes from twelve departments and agencies and the White House.  These are

 

Agency for International Development

Department of the Interior

Department of Energy

Department of Defense

Department of Homeland Security

Smithsonian Institution

Department of Agriculture

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

White House Council on Environmental Quality

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Department of Transportation

Department of Health and Human Services

Environmental Protection Agency

National Science Foundation

Department of State

 

Descriptions of each department or agency including the section within each having to do with global warming, and the title of each ex officio member participating in preparing the report, are given in the Details section at the end of this post.

 

Several serious problems arise from the present dispersed nature of the federal global warming effort.  The Details provided at the end of this post make clear that the offices in the federal government working on global warming are strewn across a myriad of departments and agencies.  Only perhaps two of these, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are concerned primarily with the environment in general, and within them, specifically the issue of global warming.  The problems arising from the existing arrangement include the following important issues.

 

1)     Personnel from thirteen federal departments and agencies with a broad range of administrative responsibilities serve as Acting Ex Officio Members coordinating the preparation of this third NCA. 

 

     As noted above, NCADAC is not mandated to formulate policy recommendations to address global warming and the harms it inflicts on humanity.  (For example, see the NCA Executive Summary, in the section “Responding to Climate Change”.  It states that mitigation approaches are being assessed elsewhere than by the NCADAC, including by various departments and agencies among those in the NCADAC.)

 

     Furthermore, the departments and agencies of the NCADAC have disparate objectives and conduct differing activities related to global warming.  These are carried out in a fashion that is administratively segregated, without significant coordination by an upper level cabinet official.  This situation potentially inhibits effective communication between personnel in related fields.  Important research and assessments are conducted by various ones of these agencies and departments, while regulation of emissions from different sources originates in still other agencies and departments. 

 

     In summary, the present status of research, evaluation and policy development related to global warming critically lacks a centralized, authoritative, coordinated organizational structure.

 

2)     Many of the organizations in the NCADAC are full federal departments headed by a cabinet member, a Secretary, or an agency headed by an Administrator.  Since s/he heads a very large organization (see Details), her/his attention is divided among many issues over time.  For this reason s/he can neither provide the focus nor devote the attention to global warming that it merits.

 

3)     Some of these departments and agencies oversee a variety of activities, many of whose goals are inconsistent with each other, with respect to the issue of global warming (see Details).  Consequently it is difficult for the particular Secretary or Administrator to develop and implement policies that could address global warming as effectively as possible, because s/he represents conflicting subordinate divisions.  The same person is being asked to perform functions that are mutually opposed to each other.  This is not an effective way to promote policies that address the issue of global warming.

 

4)     It is possible that vital communication among personnel engaged in their particular activities within their departments and agencies may be inefficient, simply because of bureaucratic barriers.  (This writer has no substantiation for this surmise.) 

 

5)     Most of the specific offices, bureaus and divisions contributing to preparation of the NCA are housed in larger departments and agencies.  As such they have to contend with their peer offices, bureaus and divisions within their departments and agencies for support from limited budgetary resources.  This potentially limits their capabilities for carrying out their objectives.

 

The U.S. needs a new cabinet-level department/agency dedicated to global warming.  The very motto of the NCADAC, “Thirteen Agencies, One Vision…”,

 

 

cries out for just such a solution.  This vision in reality must be expanded to the notion that America’s effort against continued warming be empowered by strong science, critical evaluation, and bold new federal policies. 

 

Bureaus, offices and divisions within the thirteen agencies of the NCADAC contribute diverse activities to the assembly of the NCA; these are identified below in the Details section.  The statement of purpose of the NCADAC, to “improve cooperation among Federal agencies and departments with respect to global change research activities”, speaks directly to the crucial weakness of current federal efforts to combat global warming, namely, the diffused location of efforts among executive branch departments and agencies.  The Details section makes clear just how broadly these responsibilities are scattered.

 

In order to overcome the managerial, bureaucratic and budgetary impediments to the development of cogent global warming policy, all or most of these activities should be united under the leadership of a new Department or Agency dealing exclusively with global warming.  (A reasonable case for exceptions exists perhaps for preserving efforts devoted to international climate negotiations within the Department of State, and for keeping the Sustainable Infrastructure section within the Department of Defense, for example).

 

A single department or agency would resolve the difficulties identified above.  1) The scattered, diffuse distribution of efforts devoted to global warming would be centralized into a unified administrative structure.  The mission of the new department or agency would include formulation of policy, not merely research to collect new information and evaluation of that information.  2) The department secretary or agency administrator could focus all her/his efforts on the single subject of global warming.  3) The attention of the department secretary or agency administrator would not be diverted by needing to concern herself/himself with the prerogatives of conflicting subordinate divisions.  4) Having a single administrative structure would facilitate communication among personnel working on various aspects of the global warming effort.  And 5) formulation of the budget and allocation of resources could be accomplished within the administrative structure of the new entity to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.

 

It is concluded that the U. S. should create a single new cabinet-level department or agency whose mission would be to address all aspects of the global warming problem.  Doing so would overcome serious bureaucratic problems that currently exist, and optimize federal efforts in this endeavor.

 

Details

 

Federal Agencies Involved in Global Change (Many statements below are based on information obtained from agency-specific internet pages and from Wikipedia.)  As noted above, the fourteen offices whose staffs were officially involved in assembling the NCA are components of thirteen separate departments or agencies.  The details below provide thumbnails of these departments and agencies, and the offices in which the staff members are located.

 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

EPA is a free-standing federal agency created in 1970 by an executive order from President Nixon.  Its head, the Administrator, has cabinet-level authority.

 

Its organization chart presents twelve Offices, including Air and Radiation, Research and Development, and Water.  The Office of Air and Radiation is responsible for controlling air pollution and radiation exposure, and includes the subjects of climate change, energy efficiency, pollution from vehicles and engines, acid rain, and stratospheric ozone depletion.  EPA gained authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act by the Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts v. EPA in 2007.  Under this authority EPA and the Department of Transportation jointly regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, i.e. from distributed sources.  EPA also uses this authority to regulate emissions from fixed point sources, primarily electric power plants. 

 

A member of the Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Laboratory, Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division is a member of the team overseeing preparation of the NCA.

 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

 

NASA, an independent federal agency, was established in 1958 to develop civilian space exploration.  Currently many of the modalities used to measure and assess global warming and its terrestrial effects use NASA spacecraft.  Its organization chart shows the main aspects of its operations. 

 

The Senior Advisor for Inter-Organizational Environmental Science, NASA Science Mission Directorate helps supervise the preparation of the NCA. 

 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA is but one division of many in the Department of Commerce.  Most of these are directed toward promotion and assessment of domestic commerce and international trade. 

Within this setting NOAA appears to be an outlier, having little in common with the other divisions.  Its organization chart clearly shows its emphasis on oceanic and atmospheric research.  It uses advanced scientific technologies to study changes in the oceans and the atmosphere, including global climate observation and use of state-of-the-art climate models. 

 

A scientist in NOAA’s Climate Program Office helps prepare the NCA.

 

Funding for preparing the NCA and for the NCADAC is shared between NASA and NOAA.

 

White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

 

CEQ promotes policies within the White House intended to limit emission of greenhouse gases and promoting renewable energy sources.  In these ways it seeks to mitigate global warming.

 

The Deputy Associate Director of CEQ participates in assembling the NCA.

 

Department of Energy (DOE)

 

DOE has expanded from the original Atomic Energy Commission created to host civilian applications of nuclear energy after World War II.  It was elevated to the cabinet-level DOE in 1977.  Its organization chart shows it has major responsibilities in military and civilian aspects of nuclear power.  In addition, in the Office of Science and Energy there are an Office of Science, and Assistant Secretaries for Fossil Energy, and for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  Separate sections, reporting directly to the Secretary of Energy, include the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which supports new commercial ventures in renewable energy, and the Energy Information Agency.

 

This summary shows that within the same Department there are programs dealing with the fossil fuel industry on the one hand, and renewable energy on the other.   

 

The Director of the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division, found in the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, a component of the Office of Science, is an official supervising preparation of the NCA.

 

Department of the Interior (DOI)

 

The organization chart for DOI shows five primary divisions, including Land and Minerals Management; Fish, Wildlife and Parks; and Water and Science. 

 

The Water and Science division includes the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), whose mission comprises Climate and Land Use Change, Core Science Systems, Ecosystems, Energy and Minerals, Environmental Health, Natural Hazards, and Water. 

 

The Land and Minerals Management division oversees public lands, offshore waters and federal energy and mineral resources; this includes granting permits for and regulating natural resource extraction on federal lands.  DOI’s division of Land and Minerals Management includes the Bureau of Land Management; the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement; and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.  The Bureau of Land Management oversees American public lands, about one-eighth of the total area of the U. S.  Its responsibilities include regulating natural resource development such as logging, mining and extraction of fossil fuels, as well as projects for renewable energy.

 

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management governs the development of offshore oil and gas resources in an environmentally and economically acceptable way, as well as developing offshore renewable energy.

 

It is seen from this summary that DOI comprises development activities in the realms of both fossil fuels and other minerals, and growth of renewable energy.  Historically its emphasis has been on the first of these activities.

 

The USGS Chief Scientist for Climate and Land Use Change is an official supervising the NCA.

 

National Science Foundation (NSF) supports basic research projects proposed primarily by academic investigators across the spectrum of scientific endeavor.  The Director of NSF’s Program in Decision, Risk and Management Sciences contributes to coordinating the preparation of the NCA.

 

The Smithsonian Institution  was founded in 1846.  Iits website states it is the largest museum and research organization in the world. Its Environmental Research Center studies connections between land and water in coastal zones, including effects of global warming.  A Senior Policy Advisor focusing on global environmental issues participates in supervising preparation of the NCA.

 

Department of Transportation (DOT)

 

DOT’s principal objective is promoting ease and safety of domestic transportation and travel, and fostering their economic development.  Its various sections relate to highways, waterways, air travel, railroads, pipelines and movement of hazardous materials. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles originate jointly from DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and EPA.  CAFÉ standards are the executive branch’s means for regulating fossil fuel use in distributed (i.e., moving) emission sources.

 

An energy economist working in the Office of the Secretary is an official overseeing preparation of the NCA.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  HHS also operates the Social Security Administration, Medicare, and the National Institutes of Health. An epidemiologist who is Associate Director for Climate Change in the Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects at the National Center for Environmental Health of the CDC is an official supervising preparation of the NCA.

 

Department of Agriculture (DOAg)

 

The organization chart for DOAg has seven divisions, all related to aspects of agriculture, both domestic and foreign.  

 

The DOAg official supporting the preparation of the NCA is Director of the Climate Change Program Office (CCPO), which is responsible for coordinating climate change research and program activities in the Department.  These activities set forth the causes and consequences of global warming, as well as ways of mitigating and adapting to it.

 

Department of Defense (DOD)

 

DOD is a large organization responsible for military activities of the U. S.  The DOD official contributing to preparation of the NCA is Program Manager for Sustainable Infrastructure in the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program.

 

Department of State (DOS)

 

DOS has an office for special envoys and representatives reporting directly to the Secretary (see organization chart) , one of whom is devoted to international negotiations on climate change.  A DOS official in this office participates in preparation of the NCA.

 

The U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is also a component of DOS, reporting directly to the Secretary.  The Global Climate Change Coordinator in USAID is an official overseeing preparation of the NCA.

 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

 

DHS seeks to keep the U. S. secure from external threats.  Its organization chart shows seven operational divisions.  DHS was assembled from several other federal agencies after the attacks of September 11, 2001.  The Senior Counsel to the Secretary participates in preparation of the NCA.

 

© 2014 Henry Auer