(d) Program elements The Program shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
- (1) assessments of the effect of climate on the natural environment,
agricultural production, energy supply and demand, land and water resources, transportation, human health and national security. Such assessments shall be conducted to the maximum extent possible by those Federal agencies having national programs in food, fiber, raw materials, energy, transportation, land and water management, and other such responsibilities, in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Where appropriate such assessments may include recommendations for action;
- (2) basic and applied research to improve the understanding of climate
processes, natural and man induced, and the social, economic, and political implications of climate change;
- (3) methods for improving climate forecasts on a monthly, seasonal, yearly,
and longer basis;
- (4) global data collection, and monitoring and analysis activities to provide
reliable, useful and readily available information on a continuing basis;
- (5) systems for the management and active dissemination of climatological
data, information and assessments, including mechanisms for consultation with current and potential users;
- (6) measures for increasing international cooperation in climate research,
monitoring, analysis and data dissemination;
- (7) mechanisms for intergovernmental climate-related studies and services
including participation by universities, the private sector and others concerned with applied research and advisory services. Such mechanisms may provide, among others, for the following State and regional services and functions: (A) studies relating to and analyses of climatic effects on agricultural production, water resources, energy needs, and other critical sectors of the economy; (B) atmospheric data collection and monitoring on a statewide and regional basis; (C) advice to regional, State, and local government agencies regarding climate-related issues; (D) information to users within the State regarding climate and climatic effects; and (E) information to the Secretary regarding the needs of persons within the States for climate-related services, information, and data. The Secretary may make annual grants to any State or group of States, which grants shall be made available to public or private educational institutions, to State agencies, and to other persons or institutions qualified to conduct climate-related studies or provide climate-related services;
- (8) experimental climate forecast centers, which shall (A) be responsible for
making and routinely updating experimental climate forecasts of a monthly, seasonal, annual, and longer nature, based on a variety of experimental techniques; (B) establish procedures to have forecasts reviewed and their accuracy evaluated; and (C) protect against premature reliance on such experimental forecasts; and
- (9) a preliminary 5-year plan, to be submitted to the Congress for review and
comment, not later than 180 days after September 17, 1978, and a final 5-year plan to be submitted to the Congress not later than 1 year after September 17, 1978, that shall be revised and extended at least once every four years. Each plan shall establish the goals and priorities for the Program, including the intergovernmental program described in paragraph (7), over the subsequent 5-year period, and shall contain details regarding (A) the role of Federal agencies in the programs, (B) Federal funding required to enable the Program to achieve such goals, and (C) Program accomplishments that must be achieved to ensure that Program goals are met within the time frame established by the plan.