§ 2931. — Findings and purpose.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC2931]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 56A--GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH
SUBCHAPTER I--UNITED STATES GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM
Sec. 2931. Findings and purpose
(a) Findings
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Industrial, agricultural, and other human activities,
coupled with an expanding world population, are contributing to
processes of global change that may significantly alter the Earth
habitat within a few human generations.
(2) Such human-induced changes, in conjunction with natural
fluctuations, may lead to significant global warming and thus alter
world climate patterns and increase global sea levels. Over the next
century, these consequences could adversely affect world
agricultural and marine production, coastal habitability, biological
diversity, human health, and global economic and social well-being.
(3) The release of chlorofluorocarbons and other stratospheric
ozone-depleting substances is rapidly reducing the ability of the
atmosphere to screen out harmful ultraviolet radiation, which could
adversely affect human health and ecological systems.
(4) Development of effective policies to abate, mitigate, and
cope with global change will rely on greatly improved scientific
understanding of global environmental processes and on our ability
to distinguish human-induced from natural global change.
(5) New developments in interdisciplinary Earth sciences, global
observing systems, and computing technology make possible
significant advances in the scientific understanding and prediction
of these global changes and their effects.
(6) Although significant Federal global change research efforts
are underway, an effective Federal research program will require
efficient interagency coordination, and coordination with the
research activities of State, private, and international entities.
(b) Purpose
The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for development and
coordination of a comprehensive and integrated United States research
program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand,
assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of
global change.
(Pub. L. 101-606, title I, Sec. 101, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3096.)
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 2932 of this title.
