[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S750-S752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. 
        Murray, Mr. Jeffords, and Mr. DeWine):
  S. 245. A bill to provide for the development and coordination of a 
comprehensive and integrated United States research program that 
assists the people of the United States and the world to understand, 
assess, and predict human-induced and natural processes of abrupt 
climate change; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Abrupt Climate 
Change Research Act of 2005. This bill would authorize $10 million per 
year for the next six years for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, in partnership with universities across the Nation, to 
conduct research on abrupt climate change.
  The subject of climate change remains controversial. Nevertheless, I 
believe there is one issue on which almost everyone can agree: A great 
deal more scientific research is necessary in order to better 
understand the potential risk of abrupt climate change.
  Understanding and predicting climate change are enormous scientific 
challenges. The challenges are made even more difficult with the 
recognition that the climate system is capable of dramatic and abrupt 
changes. Scientists have determined that past global temperatures have 
swung as much as 20 deg. F within a decade, accompanied by drought in 
some places and catastrophic floods in other places. An abrupt climate 
change triggered by the ongoing buildup of greenhouse gases in the 
atmosphere would also likely result in the redistribution of 
atmospheric moisture and rainfall, with substantial impact on the 
world's food supplies. Unfortunately, we have no satisfactory 
understanding of what triggers abrupt climate changes.
  Both the National Academy of Sciences and the Administration's 
Strategic Climate Change Science Plan identify abrupt climate change as 
a key priority for additional research. In a 2002 report, the National 
Academy of Sciences stated that ``Large, abrupt climate changes have 
repeatedly affected much or all of the Earth.'' Furthermore, the report 
stated that ``abrupt climate changes are not only possible but likely 
in the future, potentially with large impacts on ecosystems and 
societies.'' The report noted that we're not doing nearly enough to 
identify even the threat of abrupt climate change. My bill would lay 
the framework and provide the funds for the United States to understand 
and address abrupt climate change.
  One reason this funding is so urgent is that we're rapidly losing one 
of the greatest sources of information: Ice cores from glaciers. The 
University of Maine's Climate Change Institute has one of the best 
abrupt climate change research programs in the world. The Climate 
Change Institute uses ice cores from glaciers and ice sheets around the 
world to make discoveries that change the way we think about climate 
change. Unfortunately, numerous glaciers around the world are melting; 
and

[[Page S751]]

when they go, we lose the very record that has given us so much of this 
critical climatic history.
  I recently had the opportunity to see for myself how scientists are 
able to use glaciers and ice sheets to understand climate change. In 
August, I traveled with Senators McCain, Sununu, and others to the 
northernmost community in the world. We visited Ny-Alesund on the 
Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. Located at 79 degrees north, Ny-
Alesund lies well north of the Arctic Circle and is much closer to the 
North Pole than to Oslo, the country's capital. It has even served as a 
starting point for several polar expeditions, although thankfully, 
Senator McCain did not include an attempt to reach the North Pole on 
our itinerary.

  The scientists we met with told us that the global climate is 
changing more rapidly now than at any time since the beginning of 
civilization. They further state that the region of the globe changing 
most rapidly is the Arctic. The changes are remarkable and disturbing.
  In the last 30 years, the Arctic has lost sea-ice cover over an area 
10 times as large as the State of Maine. In the summer, the change is 
even more dramatic, with twice as much ice loss. The ice that remains 
is as much as 40 percent thinner than it was just a few decades ago. In 
addition to disappearing sea-ice, Arctic glaciers are also rapidly 
retreating. In Ny-Alesund, Senator McCain and I witnessed massive 
blocks of ice falling off glaciers that had already retreated well back 
from the shores where they once rested.
  The melting of glaciers and sea ice, the thawing of permafrost, and 
the increases in sea levels resulting from warming are already 
beginning to cause environmental, social, and economic changes. Indeed, 
the social and economic disruption resulting from climate change is 
already evident in a number of regions throughout the Arctic, including 
Alaska. Some coastal communities in Alaska are facing increased 
exposure to storms and coastal erosion as a reduction in sea ice allows 
higher waves and storm surges to reach shore. In other areas, thawing 
ground is disrupting transportation, buildings, and other 
infrastructure. Some indigenous communities are already facing the 
prospect of relocating. If these changes were to be compounded with an 
abrupt climate change on the scale seen in our climatic history, the 
result could be devastating.
  I know that my colleague, the chairman of the Commerce Committee and 
senior Senator from Alaska, is very concerned about how Arctic climate 
changes are affecting his State. I know he recognizes that more 
research funding is necessary in order to understand future climate 
changes. I look forward to working with Chairman Stevens, Ranking 
Member Inouye, and other members of the Commerce Committee to address 
this extremely important issue in the 109th Congress.
  I am grateful to my cosponsors, Senators Cantwell, Snowe, Murray, 
Jeffords, and DeWine. I look forward to working with all of my 
colleagues over the coming months in order to address this important 
issue.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to cosponsor the Abrupt 
Climate Change Research Act of 2005, legislation which will address the 
critical, comprehensive and integrated research needed for abrupt 
climate change. In the 108th, this legislation was passed by the Senate 
Commerce Committee. Its merits are just as pressing, if not more 
critical, for the 109th Congress as the legislation calls for 
developing and coordinating a research program over 6 years aimed at 
understanding, assessing, and predicting both human-induced and natural 
processes of abrupt climate change.
  The abrupt climate change research issue is one that the Maine Senate 
delegation has been working on for the past 3\1/2\ years, the genesis 
of which goes back to a Climate Change Conference in Maine in October 
2001, which was attended by a wide array of stakeholders in the State 
who have been active in climate change issues for a number of years.
  I believe we all ought to be concerned by the picture scientific 
research is painting, which points to the reality and potential impact 
of abrupt shifts in climate. The December 2001 National Academy of 
Sciences report documented a growing body of scientific evidence that 
suggests our global climate can swing abruptly, not gradually over 
time. Moreover, such sudden jumps, and I quote from the Academies' 
report, ``are not only possible but likely in the future.''
  Rather than dismiss this, as some have, as the ``science de jour'' I 
prefer to take this as a serious warning, based on the best available 
evidence and analysis. The risk of complacency is to gamble immense 
environmental and societal consequences. That's why the NAS report 
urged that a new research program be initiated to examine the potential 
impact of a sudden change in climate in response to global warming. And 
that's also why, back in May of 2002, when NOAA's Admiral Lautenbacher 
was before the Commerce Committee testifying on NOAA's FY 2003 Budget, 
I raised the need for abrupt climate change studies, and the Admiral 
agreed this is a pressing priority. Since the introduction of the 
research bill in the 108th Congress, NOAA, in a January 15, 2004 
report, stated that calendar year 2003 tied 2002 as the 2nd warmest 
year on record.
  Mr. President, as co-chair of the independent International Climate 
Change Taskforce, I was pleased to disseminate to my colleagues the 
recently published Taskforce report, ``Meeting the Climate Challenge.'' 
The ICCT includes leaders from public service, science, business and 
civil society, from both developed and developing countries. Our goal 
was to find common ground through recommendations that could be helpful 
to all governments and policymakers worldwide for developing solutions 
to address climate change.
  Indeed, our first recommendation calls for a long-term objective to 
prevent global average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees 
Centigrade, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above the pre-industrial level 
by 2100. This target would limit the extent and magnitude of the 
impacts of climate change if all countries take various actions. I will 
ask unanimous consent to submit the ICCT's ten recommendations for the 
Record. In the upcoming weeks and months, I will be introducing 
legislation that reflects these public policy recommendations.
  The temperature goal is crucial to the debate on abrupt climate 
change because, if the earth goes beyond the 2 degree C level, 
scientists have suggested that risks to both ecosystems and humans 
increase significantly. As the risks of accelerated or--as our report 
stated--``runaway'' climate change increases, a ``tipping point'' could 
be reached that would include the loss of the West Antarctic and 
Greenland ice sheets, leading to the rise of sea levels.
  On this score, abrupt and paleoclimate research can greatly enhance 
the evolving body of scientific evidence, and that is why Senator 
Lautenberg and I spearheaded the effort last year to restore the FY2005 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, research 
programs that will enable us to examine past climate change patterns. 
This information will guide the development of future models to assist 
both scientists and policymakers to improve their understanding of 
climate change through, for instance, the CORC-ARCHES program and 
paleo-
climate research. The University of Maine, under the direction of Dr. 
George Denton, has been part of the decades-long consortium that has 
been studying deep ocean currents in the Weddell Sea in Antarctica, and 
ice core samples from northern latitudes, which is helping scientists 
command a greater understanding of abrupt climate change.

  There have also been other, newer scientific reports that should give 
us great pause. Among those reports, the Arctic Climate Impact 
Assessment states, ``Arctic average temperature has risen at almost 
twice the rate as the rest of the world in the past few decades. 
Widespread melting of glaciers and sea ice and rising permafrost 
temperatures present additional evidence of strong arctic warming. 
These changes in the Arctic provide an early indication of the 
environmental and societal significance of global warming.''
  There is scientific observational evidence that indicates that 
regional changes in climate, particularly increases in temperature, are 
already affecting a diverse set of physical and biological systems in 
many parts of the

[[Page S752]]

world. Off the coast of Canada lies a 150-square mile, 100-foot thick 
mass of ice that has existed on the coast for 3,000 years, but it is 
now disintegrating. That melting has been accelerating over the past 2 
years. In addition, coral reefs, an irreplaceable marine resource 
around the world, are under tremendous stress as coral bleaching is 
induced by high water temperatures. Indeed, there are reports of a 
massive region-wide decline of coral which supports a huge variety of 
sea life across the entire Caribbean Basin.
  As we turn to the future, we should harbor no illusions that we are 
looking at a timetable measured in epochs. We are talking about tens of 
thousands of years. To the contrary, observed changes tell us that the 
snows of Kilimanjaro could vanish in 15 years, the glaciers in the 
Bolivian Andes that once appeared indestructible may disappear in 
another 10 years, and in Alaska, where the average temperature has 
risen almost 5 and one half degrees over the past 30 years, there is 
evidence of melting permafrost and dying forests.
  So my question is, what are we waiting for? Is this the kind of 
legacy we want to leave to future generations and the next millennium? 
Why not apply now the lessons of the past and present?
  Indeed, if ``past is prologue,'' and I believe it is, this bill will 
improve our understanding of climate change by calling for research to 
bolster existing, global records of past abrupt climate change, through 
the study of ice cores, for instance. In this manner we can improve 
scientific understanding of the mechanisms of abrupt climate change, 
and incorporate this knowledge into current scientific models. Even for 
those who question prevailing scientific opinion on the climate change 
issue, this bill should hold the appeal of increasing our stock of 
knowledge, wherever it may lead.
  In the final analysis, we need to carry out research that will allow 
us to gauge climate change secrets of the past, so we in turn might 
develop future models that will assist both scientists and policymakers 
in understanding climate change. The reality is, there is no doubt our 
global climate has changed in the past. There should similarly be no 
question that it would be beneficial to understand the manner in which 
that change has occurred and why, and so I urge my colleague's support 
for this legislation, and will work for its passage out of the Commerce 
Committee and to the Senate floor.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Summary of Main Recommendations be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                    Summary of Main Recommendations

       1. A long-term objective be established to prevent global 
     average temperature from rising more than 2 deg.C (3.6 deg.F) 
     above the pre-
     industrial level, to limit the extent and magnitude of 
     climate-change impacts.
       2. A global framework be adopted that builds on the UNFCCC 
     and the Kyoto Protocol, and enables all countries to be part 
     of concerted action on climate change at the global level in 
     the post-2012 period, on the basis of equity and common but 
     differentiated responsibilities.
       3. G8 governments establish national renewable portfolio 
     standards to generate at least 25% of electricity from 
     renewable energy sources by 2025, with higher targets needed 
     for some G8 governments.
       4. G8 governments increase their spending on research, 
     development, and demonstration of advanced technologies for 
     energy-efficient and low- and zero-carbon energy supply by 
     two-fold or more by 2010, at the same time as adopting near-
     term strategies for the large-scale deployment of existing 
     low- and no-carbon technologies.
       5. The G8 and other major economies, including from the 
     developing world, form a G8+ Climate Group, to pursue 
     technology agreements and related initiatives that will lead 
     to large emissions reductions.
       6. The G8+ Climate Group agree to shift their agricultural 
     subsidies from food crops to biofuels, especially those 
     derived from cellulosic materials, while implementing 
     appropriate safeguards to ensure sustainable farming methods 
     are encouraged, culturally and ecologically sensitive land 
     preserved, and biodiversity protected.
       7. All developed countries introduce national mandatory 
     cap-and-trade systems for carbon emissions, and construct 
     them to allow for their future integration into a single 
     global market.
       8. Governments remove barriers to and increase investment 
     in renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and 
     practices through such measures as the phase-out of fossil 
     fuel subsidies and requiring Export Credit Agencies and 
     Multilateral Development Banks to adopt minimum efficiency or 
     carbon intensity standards for projects they support.
       9. Developed countries honour existing commitments to 
     provide greater financial and technical assistance to help 
     vulnerable countries adapt to climate change, including the 
     commitments made at the seventh conference of the parties to 
     the UNFCCC in 2001, and pursue the establishment of an 
     international compensation fund to support disaster 
     mitigation and preparedness.
       10. Governments committed to action on climate change raise 
     public awareness of the problem and build public support for 
     climate policies by pledging to provide substantial long-term 
     investment in effective climate communication activities.
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