1) May 26 -- The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), in collaboration with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), requests comment from the public on its draft Decadal Strategic Plan by July 15, 2022.
With the implementation phase of USGCRP's previous plan winding down (
https://downloads.globalchange.gov/strategic-plan/2012/usgcrp-strategic-plan-2012.pdf), work began on a successor in the spring of 2021. The National Science and Technology Council provided USGCRP with guidance to produce a plan that was short (30 pages) and accessible to an informed lay reader.
In pursuit of a high-level, non-technical narrative, over the past year, inputs were solicited from USGCRP member agencies and interagency working groups, as well as external organizations such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Listening sessions were conducted within the Federal community and via NASEM external outreach on the Program's behalf. Public comment on a draft prospectus was sought (22 November 2021-11 January 2022) to determine if the overall vision resonated with intended audiences and if the identified strategic pillars adequately established near-term priorities while providing the flexibility to address longer term challenges. The draft narrative is now being provided both to the public and to NASEM to seek input.
USGCRP seeks feedback on program priorities and accompanying narrative in the strategic pillar sections. Respondents should consider (i) ideas on emerging, large-scale scientific questions related to global change and/or response, especially those where interagency collaboration will be critical; (ii) specific information on how science is or is not being used to inform societal response to climate change, and why; and (iii) knowledge gaps and obstacles to implementing scientific tools or knowledge.
Individuals wishing to participate in the public review of the draft 2022-2031 USGCRP Strategic Plan are encouraged to register via the USGCRP Review and Comment (R&C) System (
https://review.globalchange.gov). The document and instructions are available from 20 May to 15 July 2022.
The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) coordinates research across 13 Federal agencies to understand the human-induced and natural processes that influence the total Earth system—the atmosphere, land, water, ecosystems, and people. USGCRP was established by Presidential Initiative in 1989 and mandated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act (GCRA) of 1990 (Sec 104, Pub. L. 101-606;
https://www.globalchange.gov/about/legal-mandate). The GCRA calls for a 10-year plan with periodic updates. More detail on USGCRP strategic planning processes to date can be found at
https://www.globalchange.gov/engage/process-products/strategic-planning.
USGCRP builds on a foundation of Federal investments in research and development to ensure that America leads in basic and applied global change research.
The draft Plan was prepared and vetted by Federal agency officials comprising the Subcommittee on Global Change Research (SGCR), which provides overall direction and executive oversight of the Program. SGCR, whose membership includes representatives of scientific and implementing agencies, is a standing body of the Committee on Environment, a component of the National Science and Technology Council.
Call for public comment on the draft USGCRP Decadal Strategic Plan, 2022-2031:
https://www.globalchange.gov/content/call-public-comment-draft-usgcrp-decadal-strategic-plan-2022-2031
FR notice:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-11108
2) OSTP blog: White House Office of Science & Technology Policy and U.S. Global Change Research Program Request Comment on Draft Decadal Strategic Plan, 2022–2031
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), on behalf of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), published a Federal Register Notice seeking public comment on the draft USGCRP Decadal Strategic Plan, 2022–2031 to help advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s urgent commitment to tackling the climate change crisis.
The upcoming strategic plan – which is informed by robust engagement with the public – will detail the USGCRP’s vision for global change research across the Federal Government and establish the goals and priorities of this research. USGCRP’s 10-year plans allow for long-term visioning for the Program.
“Crafting policy based on the best available science is a key priority of the Biden-Harris Administration,” said OSTP Deputy Director for Climate and Environment, Dr. Jane Lubchenco. “The input USGCRP receives from this call will help us understand public needs and better inform decisions.”
The USGCRP Decadal Strategic Plan will focus on a range of global changes including climate change and nature loss – and the myriad ways that they affect people, our health, economy, and opportunities. When final, the Plan will be a roadmap for Federal efforts to advance the science of global change that will enable enhanced, science-based decision-making by the public and private sectors.
The draft USGCRP Decadal Strategic Plan will be informed by public feedback on four strategic pillars, as well as crosscutting themes that will guide program priorities and activities. In addition, members of the public should consider the following areas for feedback: ideas on emerging, large-scale scientific questions related to global change and/or response, especially those where interagency collaboration will be critical; specific information on how and why science is or is not being used to inform societal response to climate change; and knowledge gaps and obstacles to accessing or applying scientific tools or knowledge.
Individuals who wish to participate in the public review of the draft 2022–2031 USGCRP Decadal Strategic Plan are encouraged to register via the USGCRP Review and Comment System. The document and instructions are available until 11:59 PM EDT on July 15, 2022. The Federal Register Notice for Public Comment on the Draft USGCRP Decadal Strategic Plan, 2022–2031 can be found here.
https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2022-11108/draft-us-global-change-research-program-decadal-strategic-plan-2022-2031
More on USGCRP: The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is a Federal program mandated by Congress to coordinate Federal research and investments in understanding the forces shaping the global environment, both human and natural, and their impacts on society. USGCRP facilitates collaboration and cooperation across its 13 Federal member agencies to advance understanding of the changing Earth system and maximize efficiencies in Federal global change research.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2022/06/06/white-house-office-of-science-technology-policy-and-u-s-global-change-research-program-request-comment-on-draft-decadal-strategic-plan-2022-2031/