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)