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Press Release 09-099
National Science Foundation Releases Comprehensive Report on Global Impacts of Climate Change
Agency proposes to double climate research portfolio in 2010
May 14, 2009
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a report on global climate change, entitled "Solving the Puzzle: Researching the Impacts of Climate Change around the World," that describes how, over nearly 60 years, NSF-funded researchers have found signs of a changing climate in nearly every corner of the globe, from the icy expanses of Earth's polar regions to its equatorial ecosystems. Climate change research and education has been identified as a Presidential priority area for NSF, and the report's release coincides with the recent announcement of the President's fiscal year 2010 budget for NSF, which includes an increase of approximately $250 million for climate research, which would double NSF's investment in climate research. The report explores the contributions and on-going activities of NSF-funded researchers in science and engineering fields including ecology, glaciology, atmospheric science, behavioral science, and economics. The report addresses the climate change "puzzle" piecewise--devoting chapters to the sky, sea, ice, land, life and people components of Earth's climate system. Each chapter includes research highlights that capture the findings of several NSF-funded investigators, from those who have discovered new evidence of Earth's changing climate, to others who have developed cutting-edge approaches for reducing the human influence on Earth's climate, in research areas such as alternative energy and economics. NSF-funded researchers have revolutionized the way we understand the Earth system as a whole because they've reached across disciplinary boundaries to study questions that extend beyond any one field of science or engineering. Because of the complexity of Earth's climate, this research involves contributions from nearly every field of science, math and engineering. NSF has also launched a Foundation-wide Climate Change Education program aimed at improving K-12 to graduate education in climate change science and increasing the public's understanding of climate change and its consequences. These new investments build on the long history of world-class research and education efforts described in the report. The report was published by NSF's Office of Legislative and Public Affairs. The online version can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/climate/index.jsp. A PDF version of the report is available at http://www.nsf.gov/news/nsf09202/index.jsp.
-NSF-
Media Contacts
Dana Topousis, National Science Foundation (703) 292-7750 dtopousi@nsf.gov
Program Contacts
Melissa Summers, National Science Foundation (703) 292-8463 msummers@nsf.gov
Related Websites
Global Climate Change Special Report: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/climate/
Solving the Puzzle: Researching the Impacts of Climate Change Around the World: http://www.nsf.gov/news/nsf09202/index.jsp
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
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