ESA Policy News February 19: President’s FY 2016 budget request, NRC examines geoengineering, ESA scientists talk climate on the Hill
Here are some highlights from the latest ESA Policy News by Policy Analyst Terence Houston. Read the full Policy News here. 
SCIENCE: RESEARCH INVESTMENTS GET BOOST IN PRESIDENT’S FY 2016 FUNDING PROPOSAL
On Feb. 2, the president released the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget. It functions as a wish list of administration federal policy priorities in the government’s budget. However, Congress, holding the “power of the purse,” has the final say on how these priorities are rolled into the 12 appropriations bills that fund the government.
While the Budget Control Act of 2011 limits FY 2016 discretionary spending to $1.016 trillion, the president’s proposed budget would provide $1.091 trillion. This spending increase is paid for through various proposals in the president’s budget to raise revenue by closing loopholes in the tax code and also increasing taxes for wealthier Americans and other entities. Legislation to increase tax revenue is not expected to move in the Republican-controlled Congress. Consequently, the president’s budget spending increases are unlikely to be included in the 12 appropriations bills Congress passes later this year.
Overall, the president’s budget request would provide $146 billion for federal research and development (R&D), a 5.5 percent increase over the FY 2015 enacted level. While the overall R&D figure is good, basic research that funds most US academics only increases by 2.6 percent, to $32 billion. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programs would receive $3 billion in FY 2016, a 3.6 increase over FY 2015.
Click here for additional information on the FY 2016 NSF budget.
Click here for additional information on the FY 2016 NOAA budget.
Click here for additional information on the FY 2016 USDA budget request.
Click here for additional information on the FY 2016 DOE budget request.
Click here for additional information on the FY 2016 USGS budget request.
Click here for additional information on the White House’s R&D investments.
EPA: PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST PRIORITIZES CLIMATE ACTION
For the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the president’s FY 2016 request provides $8.6 billion, $452 million above the FY 2015 enacted level. This includes a $120 million increase towards agency-wide programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. Programs that would be eliminated in the president’s budget include the Beaches Protection categorical grants and the Water Quality Research and Support grants.
Below are FY 2016 funding levels for specific EPA programs compared to FY 2015 enacted levels:
Environmental Program and Management: $2.84 billion; a $228.03 million increase.
- Environmental Education: $11 million; a $2.3 million increase.
- Water Quality Protection: $254.3 million; a $43.88 million increase.
Hazardous Substance Superfund: $1.088 billion; a $65.07 million increase.
- Environmental Justice: $14.6 million; a $7.3 million increase.
EPA Science and Technology: $759.2 million; a $34.4 million increase.
- Climate Protection Program: $117.7 million; a $14.3 million increase.
Click here for additional information on the FY 2016 EPA budget.
Click here for a fact sheet on climate priorities in the president’s budget.
NASA: CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASES RISK OF ‘MEGADROUGHTS’ LATER THIS CENTURY
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released a report concluding that droughts in the Central Plains and Southwest US in the latter part of the 21st century could be longer than any experienced in the last 1000 years.
The study is based on several climate models, including one from NASA. The study was published in the journal Science Advances.
Click here for additional information on the study.
CLIMATE: NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL CONSIDERS GEOENGINEERING
A two-volume report from the National Research Council (NRC) concluded that dramatic reductions in carbon dioxide emissions is the most effective way to negate the consequences of climate change while calling for more research on “geoengineering” techniques: carbon dioxide removal and albedo-modification techniques.
Carbon dioxide removal is relatively low-risk, but would be very costly and take a long time to implement. Albedo modification would only temporarily mask CO2 warming effects and is considered high-risk. The report calls for separate evaluations and companion reports of the two types of approaches.
Click here for additional information.
POLICY ENGAGEMENT: ESA SCIENTISTS MEET WITH HILL OFFICES TO DISCUSS CLIMATE SCIENCE
On Feb. 11, the Ecological Society of America (ESA) participated in Climate Science Days, an annual event sponsored by the Climate Science Working Group (CSWG) to advance understanding of climate change research to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. ESA is a CSWG member as are other scientific associations.
Teams met with over 90 House and Senate offices and committee staff. Meetings with freshman Senate and House members were given priority along with lawmakers who serve on committees with jurisdiction over climate science issues. President David Inouye and Public Affairs Committee members Alexis Erwin and Bruce Beyers represented the ESA scientific community.
Other participating CSWG organizations included the American Chemical Society, American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society, American Society of Agronomy, American Society of Plant Biologists, American Statistical Association, Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Crop Science Society of America, Geological Society of America, Society for Conservation Biology, Soil Society of America, and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.