美科教組織籲下任總統 提高氣候研究預算 | 環境資訊中心
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美科教組織籲下任總統 提高氣候研究預算

2008年08月27日
摘譯自2008年8月25日ENS美國,華盛頓特區報導;謝芳怡編譯;蔡麗伶審校

在密西西里州Newtonia的一處維修間,主人在強大的颶風過後,搜尋殘留的可用資源;圖片來源:聯邦能源管理署Michael Raphael美國極具權威的8大氣候科學教育組織,近日共同發表聲明,呼籲美國新任政府和國會投入更多資源支持科學研究,以減少天災和氣候變遷所帶來的損害。

聲明中提出5項建議,要求美國政府修改刪減預算的政策,並向決策者提供可行的方法、資訊和領導方式。建議中的第1點是由美國研究協會所提出,要求全面贊助美國透過衛星和陸基工具所進行地球觀測系統。此項計劃預計需花費90億美元,遠遠超出目前美國政府2010年到2014年的投資金額。

發表此項聲明的組織包括美國大學大氣研究聯盟、美國氣象學會、美國地球物理學會、氣象研究聯盟、水循環發展大學聯盟、全國州立大學和捐地學院協會、海洋發展領導聯盟和地球觀測聯盟。

在這篇簡短的建議內容裡,也提醒總統候選人今年龍捲風形成的數量已創下新高,從今年1月到5月美國國家海洋及大氣管理局暴風雨預測中心所確定的旋風數,就將近1000個。科學家也指出,因為氣候變化所引發的天災,例如颶風、龍捲風、森林大火、洪水、乾旱和暴風雪,讓美國每年都必須付出數十億的損失。

而這些組織也都認為,現在投入越多的經費在衛星、科學器材和研究上,能讓美國人民避免全球暖化效應及其未來可能引發的嚴重氣候災害。

Next President Advised to Upgrade Climate Science Budget
WASHINGTON, DC, August 25, 2008 (ENS)

Eight of the top American organizations responsible for weather and climate science and education are calling on the next administration and Congress to better protect the United States from severe weather events and climate change by investing in the basics of better science.

They issued five recommendations to reverse declining budgets and provide needed tools, information, and leadership to decision makers. Topping the list is a request to fully fund the nation's Earth observing system from satellite and ground-based instruments as recommended by the National Research Council.

The plan is estimated to cost roughly $9 billion above the current federal investments being planned for 2010 through 2014. The eight organizations that wrote the document are UCAR, the American Meteorological Society, the American Geophysical Union, the Weather Coalition, the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, and the Alliance for Earth Observations.

The briefing document reminds the candidates that tornadoes are forming at a record-setting pace this year, with nearly 1,000 twisters confirmed by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center for the period January through May 2008.

And every year, the scientists point out, the country sustains billions of dollars in losses from disasters related to weather and climate, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, forest fires, floods, droughts, and snow storms. The organizations say that spending more now on satellites, scientific instruments, and research will better protect Americans from the effects of global warming and the severe weather events it will bring in the future.

全文及圖片詳見:ENS

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.