Book Description

This report addresses the research and development (R&D) organizations and the decision-making processes that the Federal Government needs to enable it to work toward national and global environmental objectives. It is essential that these programs be well organized, adequately funded, and closely linked with the policy-making process. The report suggests that there are many excellent scientists and engineers in the federal research system, but they are operating within organizations and under a set of priorities that are directed more toward the problems of the past than the problems of today and tomorrow. The Commission asserts that the complex environmental problems of today require a restructuring of the federal environmental R&D system and the redirection of many of its programs to a new set of priorities. The report discusses over a dozen federal departments and agencies that conduct environment-related R&D and the need for a more dynamic, interrelated organizational structure and more effective assessment and policy-making processes. A variety of suggestions are presented for improving the R&D programs of individual departments and agencies, and among other measures, strengthening and streamlining R&D infrastructure, providing strong leadership, encouraging multidisciplinary research efforts, and improving coordination among research programs. A recommendation "To Improve Educational Programs in the Environmental Sciences" appears in the section on "Building a Strong Intellectual Base" (Chapter 7). The appendixes contain a review of federal environmental R&D programs and biographies of the task force members responsible for this report. (Contains 117 references.) (MCO)