WASHINGTON, DC — The Bush administration, in conjunction with thirteen sponsoring federal agencies, last Thursday completed a three-day workshop seeking to set a new agenda for research on climate change. Though hampered by an early season snowstorm on its final day, the meeting was host to nearly 1300 climate scientists, technologists and stakeholders.
Faced with criticism for their environmental policy, administration officials and policy advisors emphasized the openness of the proceedings. Transparency was an "essential feature" of the meeting, said James R. Mahoney, assistant secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and director of the US Climate Change Science Program. "The only way we could progress was to put it all on the table," he said.
The proceedings focused on revisions and improvements to a draft version of a new strategic plan for US-sponsored climate change research. Mahoney told participants that the draft plan was prepared with an emphasis on ...
