CALIFORNIA - CEC Launches Global Climate-Change Web Resource
The California Energy
Commission (CEC) has launched a new web
site to help Californians understand global climate change. The site
combines previous CEC web pages on climate change with links to other California
state agencies and private entities that address the impacts that the
approaching climatic phenomenon can have on California's resources, agriculture,
ecosystems, forestry, water supply and its overall economy.
"California, the fifth largest economy in the world, is involved in a broad
strategy in responding to climate change," said Energy Commissioner James
D. Boyd. "Such a multi-pronged approach includes the continued development
of California's renewable-energy resources, further advancements in building and
appliance energy-efficiency standards, as well as the adherence and further
growth of energy efficiency in our use of electricity, natural gas and
transportation fuels. Moreover, California is the only state in the nation with
a publicly funded climate-change research effort."
On a regional level, the portal also showcases pronouncements and initiatives
from the governors of California, Oregon and Washington. Recently the three
governors approved a series of recommendations by their staffs for common
regional goals and strategies to combat global warming over the coming year.
"The magnitude of addressing the global climate-change problem requires a
multi-agency approach, and our state is committed to doing its part,"
commented California EPA Secretary Alan Lloyd. "This web site provides
businesses, scientists and consumers with easy access to the state's
greenhouse-gas inventory, the virtual global climate-change research center, and
other important global climate-change web sites."
The web site links to federal agencies, other state governments, international
organizations, research groups, and most of the entities involved program and
policy-wise in responding to climate change. The site serves as the home of the
California Climate Change Center, the virtual nerve center of all ongoing global
warming research under the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy
Research (PIER) program.
The new web site will house papers detailing the results of PIER-funded research
projects on climate change and will calendar all seminars and workshops
meaningful to the state's effort on the subject. As an added resource for
professional researchers and students, the web site also features a glossary of
terms used in global climate change.
(Source: CEC news release, 3/2/05)