# Climate Change: Federal Program Funding and Tax Incentives

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3ARL33817

## Record

- **Collection:** Congressional research report
- **Document type:** CRS Report
- **Published:** December 22, 2008
- **Citation:** RL33817

## Text

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Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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Federal funding to address global climate change was enacted at $6.37 billion for FY2008,
extended by a Continuing Resolution for FY2009 at or below FY2008 levels to March 6, 2009.
Members of Congress have expressed interest in how federal funding may reflect and enable an
overall strategy, and priorities within it, to address climate change. This report summarizes
federal funding and tax incentives identified as climate change-related under the Bush
Administration. It identifies the organization of programs, how funding may reflect priorities, and
external evaluations or recommendations for the broad programs, to the degree they are available.
Barack Obama has made direction-changing pledges to abate U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and
to engage more aggressively internationally on climate change. The change in Executive
leadership and the evolving Congressional debate over appropriate policies to address climate
change may shift priorities among climate change activities. Calls to expand climate change
funding, despite deepening budget pressures, may require that programs do a better job of
demonstrating benefits to compete effectively with other budgetary demands. This review of
federal funding of climate change activities suggests that there may be opportunities to better
align funding with strategic policy goals, and to assure that programs are organized to accomplish
those goals more efficiently.
Fourteen federal agencies administer climate change-related activities. The packaging of mostly
existing programs into a climate change strategy has resulted in a lack of a unifying mission
jointly shared across agencies to address climate change. Funding has largely reflected
departmental missions and support for each activity, rather than each activity’s expected
contribution to an over-arching strategy. The new Obama Administration is expected to provide
more action-oriented leadership, but will face the challenge of aligning programs, resources, and
tax incentives into a cross-agency, inter-governmental strategy. Associated legislative issues
include how legislation to control greenhouse gases may affect funding and tax incentive
priorities; the sufficiency and alignment of federal resources to support a strategy to achieve longterm climate change policy goals; demands for additional and predictable resources to support
actions by low income countries to mitigate greenhouse gases or adapt to climate change;
possible legislative proposals to restructure or improve collaboration among climate change
activities; addressing recommendations from evaluations, to the degree they exist, to improve
climate change programs; exploring options for financing climate change programs, especially if
greenhouse gas emission allowances or fees are enacted by the 111th Congress; and possible
requirements for reporting to Congress of funding, budget justifications and programmatic
progress that are adequate to support Congressional decision-making and oversight.

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Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Recent Federal Policy Goals for Climate Change Programs .................................................... 1
The Congressional Role ............................................................................................................ 2
Evolution of Federal Climate Change Programs....................................................................... 2
Historical Climate Change Funding: FY2001 to Present.......................................................... 5
New Budget Authority by Year and Program ..................................................................... 5
Tax Expenditures ................................................................................................................ 7
Budgetary Impact of Climate Change Programs ................................................................ 7
President Bush’s FY2009 Request for Climate Change Funding.................................................... 8
Major Changes in the FY2009 Request .................................................................................... 9
FY2009 Request by Major Program Areas ............................................................................. 10
FY2009 Requests by Applications of Funding ........................................................................11
FY2009 Request by Agency.....................................................................................................11
Climate Change Science Program (CCSP).................................................................................... 14
FY2009 Request for the CCSP—Overview............................................................................ 14
Background and Historical Funding for Climate Change Science.......................................... 15
CCSP Goals, Strategies, Products and Evaluations................................................................. 17
FY2009 CCSP Proposals by Activities ............................................................................. 18
Products of the CCSP........................................................................................................ 19
Evaluations of the CCSP................................................................................................... 21
Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP) ............................................................................. 24
CCTP Funding by Technology................................................................................................ 26
CCTP Funding by Agency ...................................................................................................... 29
International Climate Change Assistance...................................................................................... 30
The Clean Technology Fund (CTF) ........................................................................................ 30
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) ............................................. 31
Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP)..................................... 32
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Additional Commitments ................................ 32
Debt Restructuring to Preserve Tropical Forests..................................................................... 33
Tax Provisions ............................................................................................................................... 34
Principal Observations and Legislative Issues .............................................................................. 35
No Single Goal Aligns the Federal Effort ............................................................................... 35
Reporting Might Better Serve Congressional Needs .............................................................. 35
Recent Changes: Technology and Tax Incentives Up, Science Down .................................... 36
The Federal Climate Science Effort Has Declined ................................................................. 37
Balancing the Technology Effort............................................................................................. 37
Solving a Global Problem Requires a Strategy for International Programs............................ 38
Possible Efficiencies Among Tax Provisions .......................................................................... 39
Opportunities to Improve the Federal Climate Change Effort ................................................ 40
Related CRS Reports..................................................................................................................... 41

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Figure 1. FY2009 Requested New Budget Authority for Climate Change by Major
Program Area, Compared to FY2008 Enacted and FY2007 Actual........................................... 10
Figure 2. Requested FY2009 New Budget Authority for Climate Change Program Areas
by Agency................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 3. Budget Authority for U.S. Climate Change Science: FY1989-FY2007 Actual,
FY2008 Enacted, and FY2009 Request ..................................................................................... 16
Figure 4. Applications of CCSP Funding Requested for FY2009................................................. 19
Figure 5. Estimated CCTP Funding Requested for FY2009 by Technology Type........................ 28
Figure 6. FY2009 CCTP Request by Stage of Technology ........................................................... 29
Figure 7. Comparison of CCTP Funding by Agency for FY2008 Enacted and FY2009
Requested Levels........................................................................................................................ 30
Figure B-1. Coordination of Climate Change Under President George W. Bush ......................... 45

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Table 1. Total Budgetary Impact of U.S. Climate Change Initiatives: FY2003-FY2007
Actual, FY2008 Enacted, and President Bush’s FY2009 Request ............................................... 6
Table 2. Budget Authority for U.S. Climate Change Programs by Federal Department
and Agency: FY2003-FY2007 Actual, FY2008 Enacted, and President Bush’s FY2009
Request ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Table C-1. Budget Authority for U.S. Climate Change Science: FY1989-FY2007 Actual,
FY2008 Enacted, and President Bush’s FY2009 Request.......................................................... 46
Table F-1. Budget Authority for National Climate Chagne Technology Initiative Priorities
by Federal Agency, FY2005-FY2006 Actual, FY2007 Enacted, and the FY2008
Request ....................................................................................................................................... 64

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Appendix A. Statutory Language Requiring Reports to Congress on Federal Climate
Change Expenditures.................................................................................................................. 42
Appendix B. Interagency Coordination of Climate Change Under President George W.
Bush............................................................................................................................................ 44
Appendix C. Historical Funding of the CCSP............................................................................... 46
Appendix D. CCSP-Identified Programs by Agency .................................................................... 47
Appendix E. CCTP-Identified Programs by Agency..................................................................... 57
Appendix F. Climate Change Technology Priorities, as Identified by the Bush
Administration............................................................................................................................ 63

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Author Contact Information .......................................................................................................... 66

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Human-driven climate change, once considered a topic only for scientific research, has evolved
into a policy debate. Congressional proposals have identified numerous actions aimed at closer
observation and analysis, mandatory pollution control, financial assistance for technological
change, adaptation to cope with changes, and a host of additional policy options. Despite calls to
expand federal funding to address climate change, federal budgeting overall faces increasingly
stark choices among competing fiscal demands.
Federal funding for climate change activities was enacted at $6.37 billion for FY2008; adding in
the effects of tax incentives, the budgetary impact of climate change-related activities totaled
$7.73 billion for FY2008. For FY2009, funding continues at or below those levels through March
6, 2009 under a Continuing Resolution (P.L. 110-329).1 In some cases, the Continuing Resolution
may have sustained funding to many climate change programs at a higher level than President
Bush’s FY2009 request, since many had been proposed to bear cuts. Tax incentives for renewable
energy and other similar incentives were passed late in 2008 and the uncertainty may have
affected the budgetary impacts of those incentives in FY2009. As the 111th Congress evaluates the
value of past funding and future priorities to address climate change, this report provides an
overview of federal funding and tax incentives in the context of Presidential goals from 2001
through 2008, as well as legislative requirements for these programs.
With a new Administration, the context for climate change funding will change: President Barack
Obama has outlined a new set of policies, including a goal to return U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions to their 1990 levels by the year 2020, to reduce GHG emissions by 80% below 1990 by
2050, and to achieve these goals through a system of emission caps and trading.2 As Presidentelect, Obama stated, on December 15, 2008, that “the effort before us will demand coordination
across the government, and my personal engagement as President.”3 To assist with these, he has
designated former EPA Administrator Carol Browner to be Assistant to the President for Energy
and Climate Change. It remains to be seen how his goals and new leadership in the White House
will translate into funding proposals and program alignment.

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In 2002, President George W. Bush announced a goal to cut the U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG)
intensity—the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted per unit of economic activity (GDP)—by
18% through 2012.4 In parallel, he directed U.S. programs addressing climate change to aim at:
•

reducing scientific uncertainties;

1
Although appropriations for FY2009 for the Department of Defense (DOD) were passed in the 110th Congress, it is
unclear whether the levels for climate change-related activities were changed, as these are funded below the
appropriations account detail in DOD’s budget.
2
For more information on emissions cap-and-trade systems, see CRS Report RL33799, Climate Change: Design
Approaches for a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program, by (name redacted).
3
See http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/
president_elect_barack_obama_announces_key_members_of_energy_and_environmen/.
4
The “business-as-usual” decline for this period was estimated to be about 14%.

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advancing development and introduction of energy efficient, renewable, and
other low- or non-emitting technologies; and

•

improving standards for measuring and registering GHG emission reductions.

On April 16, 2008, President Bush announced a new national goal for climate policy—to halt
increases in U.S. emissions of GHG by 2025.5 Emissions would begin to decline thereafter “so
long as technology continues to advance.”6 According to President Bush, the United States would
achieve this goal by regulatory measures and market incentives to encourage use of clean
technologies.
Presidential requests for funding have been linked only in a general way to achieving stated
climate change policy goals. Specific outcome-oriented performance targets have been set for
some programs, such as for greenhouse gas reductions achieved by the Environmental Protection
Agency’s and the Department of Energy’s Energy Star programs, and several other voluntary
partnerships. However, quantitative greenhouse gas, science, or technology performance targets
are not identified for most of the requested climate-related funding. Clearer relationships among
programs, their funding, and their contributions to meeting measurable climate change goals may
be considered by the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress, especially if GHG targets are
legislated as proposed in a number of bills.

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The appropriation of funds by the Congress alters the total amount and distribution of funding
requested by the President to address climate change across agencies and activities. Because most
Congressional scrutiny of specific funding, and primary choices, occurs in appropriations
subcommittees—further altered by Congressionally directed funding—the appropriations process
has not facilitated a broad view of over-arching climate change policy goals and priorities, or
consistency with goals across agencies and diverse activities. Enhancing an over-arching vision
and prioritization would require greater coordination across subcommittees or at the committee
level than typically occurs.7

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Evidence of human influence8 on the Earth’s climate and its potentially catastrophic impacts
gained the attention of some Members of Congress by the 1980s. Congress enacted a scientific
5

This is not the first quantitative GHG goal set for U.S. climate change policy: on April 21, 1993, President William J.
Clinton “announce[d] our nation’s commitment to reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases to their 1990 levels by
the year 2000,” consistent with the Article 4 aim of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). The challenge in meeting that aim with voluntary measures led to agreement on mandatory GHG
reduction obligations in the Kyoto Protocol (though the United States did not become a Party to that treaty).
6
White House. Fact Sheet: Taking Additional Action to Confront Climate Change. Press Release, April 16, 2008. See
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/04/print/20080416-7.html.
7
The challenges of such “cross-cut” issues are not unique to climate change, and may not be solved by reorganization
of the programs, as occurred with homeland security cross-cut. New types of processes might be explored to address
cross-cutting issues and appropriations.
8
Pollution affecting the Earth’s climate includes the greenhouse gases (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),
nitrous oxide (N2O), and chlorinated and fluourinated chemicals (such as CFC, HFC, HCFC). It also includes
tropospheric ozone, black carbon, organic carbon, and sulfates. Additional trace gases, such as nitrogen trifluoride
(continued...)

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research program in 1990, and U.S. federal funding subsequently expanded to better understand
and address the phenomenon. Both the amounts and purposes of funding for climate change
efforts have evolved since 1990.
This report describes federal funding of climate change activities across 14 agencies. Most
emphasis is on changes from the enacted FY2007 and FY2008 levels to President Bush’s FY2009
request. A Continuing Resolution (P.L. 110-329) extended the FY2008 enacted levels through
March 6, 2009, which is in some cases higher than the levels requested. Some longer historical
perspective is provided where data are available. As this report discusses, the availability and
clarity of funding information continues to impede full understanding of the federal effort and its
effectiveness,9 and so the estimates provided in this report are best viewed with caution. In
addition, the limited political agreement that has evolved around climate change in the United
States has resulted in packaging of all activities as research on science or technologies, or
international assistance. This emphasis on research may not adequately characterize the actual
work and evolving priorities—especially if calls for greater action on GHG abatement, impacts
assessment, and adaptation are answered by federal programs and incentives.
There has been an historic emphasis on climate change science within the overall U.S. effort to
address climate change. Concerns about climate change first issued from the research community.
Even as public concern rose, some decision-makers emphasized improving the science in order to
make wise policy decisions. Some observers expressed concern that such emphasis on
uncertainties and the need for additional scientific research were a rationale not to undertake more
concrete mitigative or adaptive actions to address climate change.10 Nonetheless, there has been a
long-standing consensus that continued scientific research on climate change, its impacts and
possible adaptation strategies is desirable. Funding levels for climate change increased rapidly
from 1989 to 1995, but have generally declined for climate change science since then (when
amounts are adjusted for inflation).
By the mid-1990s, scenario analyses had made clear that effectively avoiding human-induced
climate change would require major changes in energy and other technologies in use. Not
surprisingly, another consensus emerged surrounding federal support to advance technologies that
allow a transition to a lower greenhouse (GHG)-emitting society without compromising
economic well-being.11 The growing set of activities and funds to support “clean” technologies
were packaged as a second major component of the climate change effort by President William J.
(...continued)
(NF3) and other fluorine gases, have potentially climate-forcing properties but are rarely considered in policy
discussions. In most cases, however, many people are referring only to the “basket of six” GHG: CO2, CH4, N2O, SF6,
HFC and PFC. For more information, see CRS Report RL33849, Climate Change: Science and Policy Implications, by
(name redacted).
9
See, for example, GAO. 2006. Climate Change: Greater Clarity and Consistency are Needed in Reporting Federal
Climate Change Funding. Statement of John B. Stephenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment. GAO-061122T. Washington DC.
10
“Throughout [1989], the President [George H.W. Bush] was criticized for not exercising greater leadership in
support of early negotiations on an international framework convention on global warming.... [In 1989,] [r]esearch was
considered especially important because existing uncertainty on the extent and timing of global warming was the
Administration’s chief argument for remaining uncommitted to negotiating an international convention. The
Administration insisted that more data was required before action could be taken.” From CRS Report 90-364, Congress
and International Environmental Issues in 1989, by (name redacted), Washington DC, August 1, 1990.
11
See CRS Report RL33970, Greenhouse Gas Emission Drivers: Population, Economic Development and Growth,
and Energy Use, by (name redacted) and (name redacted).

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Clinton for FY1997 as the Climate Change Technology Initiative, and then by President George
W. Bush for FY2003 as the Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP). The technology
programs have grown to be about two-thirds of all climate change funding. (Budget data are
insufficient at this time to analyze the historical funding prior to FY1998.) A third point of broad
agreement—and associated funding—has been that the developing countries would need
assistance—financial and technical—to adopt less emitting economic paths than those followed
by the United States and other industrialized countries. In 1992, the United States and other
developed countries committed to providing such assistance under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change. In association with that treaty, in 1992, President George H.W.
Bush established a two-year, $25 million Country Studies Program to build the capacities of
developing and transition countries to assess and implement climate change policies. Most
funding for international assistance has been through the Agency for International Development
(US AID), and has generally declined since the late 1990s, due variously to Executive Branch
decisions and Congressional opposition.
This report provides an overview of climate change funding in three major climate change
program areas (science, technology, and international assistance) as well as tax provisions that
may encourage reductions in greenhouse gases. Increasingly, there are overlaps and gaps among
these program areas. Alternative ways to categorize the funding might better serve Congressional
decision-making. Though limited by data, this report provides preliminary analysis of the federal
effort—for example, by type of activity or by types of technologies supported. The report also
identifies several legislative issues related to federal funding for climate change programs and
activities.12

Box 1. Definitions of Selected Budget Terms

Budgetary terminology has very specific meanings, although those terms are sometimes used in a broader sense. This
CRS report uses both the specifically defined terms as well as other words meant to be synonyms, as explained
below:
Budget Authority (BA): According to the Office of Management and Budget, in The Budget System and Concepts
(2008), “budget authority” is “the authority provided by law to incur financial obligations that will result in outlays,”
or spending. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2008/pdf/concepts.pdf. Budget authority enacted in a given
year is “new budget authority”—which this report uses interchangeably with “funding.” New budget authority differs
from the budgetary resources, or total budget authority available for a specific purpose in a given year, which may
include new BA plus residual BA left unobligated, or unspent, from previous years.
Expenditures: “Expenditures” are not formally defined but generally mean the “outlays” (or funds paid out) of
financial resources in a given year. Expenditures must always be lower than the total budget authority, but may be
higher or lower than the new budget authority for a year. Because expenditure data are generally unavailable
regarding climate change, this report does not use the term “expenditures” except where quoting another source.
Tax Expenditures: As defined by law, “tax expenditures” are “revenue losses resulting from Federal tax provisions
that grant special tax relief designed to encourage certain kinds of behavior by taxpayers or to aid taxpayers in special
circumstances. These provisions may, in effect, be viewed as spending programs channeled through the tax system.”
Congressional Research Service. (2006) Tax Expenditures: Compendium of Background Material on Individual Provisions.
Washington, DC: Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate. p.2. Tax expenditures are defined by Section 3(3) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 [2 U.S.C. 622(3)]. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/
getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_senate_committee_prints&docid=f:31188.pdf. This report uses the term “tax
expenditures” throughout, as defined above.

12
This report discusses the “crosscut” budget for federal climate change activities. Other issue areas confront similar
challenges of crosscut budget reporting and evaluation. For a discussion of crosscut budget issues and options, see CRS
Report RL34328, America COMPETES Act: Programs, Funding, and Selected Issues, by (name redacted).

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Table 1 shows new federal budget authority enacted for FY2001 through FY2008 and the
FY2009 request, in nominal dollars as reported by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),
and in constant 2007 dollars only for the annual totals, adjusted for inflation by CRS. While
information has not been reported yet for FY2009, a Continuing Resolution (CR) (P.L. 110-329)
extended the FY2008 enacted levels through March 6, 2009 for almost all climate-related
programs. The CR continues funding in some cases at levels higher than requested, and in some
cases, lower that the request. The Bush Administration has grouped all funding into three major
program areas: the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), the Climate Change Technology
Program (CCTP), and International Assistance. Funding has wavered through the years, in total
and in each of the program areas. Notable increases occurred in the FY2008 enacted and FY2009
proposed funding, largely for new satellites, nuclear energy, and international technology
financing.
Box 2

Status of Administration Reports to Congress

funding data described in this report derive primarily from the 2007 Report to Congress on Federal Climate
Change Expenditures by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and previous years’ reports beginning from
2002. Because this series of reports was no longer required in any FY2008 appropriations law, the Office of
Management and Budget did not produce a similar report in 2008. For FY2008 and adjustments to previous years, this
CRS report relied heavily on unpublished data provided to CRS by OMB and other federal agencies. Without a
Congressional requirement to produce a cross-cut budget for federal climate change activities, it is unclear whether
future Administrations will prepare any more. If the 111th Congress finds data on climate change funding and
programs useful for oversight and other legislative purposes, it may consider requirements for reporting of climate
change-related activities, including directions that would improve clarity and consistency compared to previous
reports.
The

Understanding the level of effort over time is obscured by changes in the levels of aggregation,
scope of programs reported, and methods of budget accounting. (See discussion in the Box 3,
Clarity and Consistency of Reporting of Climate Change Funding.)13

13

For more information on budget terms and processes, see CRS Report 98-721, Introduction to the Federal Budget
Process, by (name redacted).

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.Total Budgetary Impact of U.S. Climate Change Initiatives: FY2003-FY2007
Actual, FY2008 Enacted, and President Bush’s FY2009 Request

Table 1

(in millions of nominal dollars, except where noted)

Major
Climate
Change
Program
Areas
Climate
Change
Science
Program
Climate
Change
Technology
Program
International
Climate
Change
Assistance

All Areas

All Areas in
Constant 2007
Dollars

Budget Authority
FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009
Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Enacted Request
$1,728

$1,667

$2,078

$1,996

$1,864

$1,691

$1,825

$1,864

$2,080

$1,675

$1,637

$2,533

$2,870

$2,808

$2,789

$3,485

$4,303

$4,416

$218

$224

$270

$252

$234

$249

$188

$202

$657

$3,603

$3,528

$4,881

$5,118

$4,906

$4,729

$5,498

$6,369

$7,153

$4,208

$4,043

$5,483

$5,603

$5,204

$4,856

$5,498

$6,248

$6,879

Tax
Estimated Tax Expenditures
Provisions FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009
That May
Reduce
Greenhouse
Gas
Emissions
Tax

$0

$0

$580

$500

$369

$1,160

$1,520

$1,520

$1,440

$0

$0

$651

$547

$391

$1,191

$1,520

$1,491

$1,385

$3,603

$3,522

$5,454

$5,618

$5,275

$5,889

$7,004

$7,875

$8,573

$4,208

$4,036

$6,126

$6,150

$5,596

$6,047

$7,004

$7,726

$8,244

Expenditures
in Constant
2007 dollars

Total
Budgetary
Impact
a

Total

Budgetary
Impact in
Constant
2007 Dollars

OMB, including Federal Climate Change Expenditures Report to Congress, FY2008, May 2007, Table 8,
p. 27; Federal Climate Change Expenditures Report to Congress, August 2003, Table 1; and Federal Climate
Change Expenditures Report to Congress, July 2002, Table 1. OMB adjusted the science and technology
amounts for FY2003, FY2004, and FY2005 to reflect more recent accounting within these program areas.
Remaining inconsistencies are likely across years due to changes in the scopes of what is considered for “climate
change” and methods of allocating certain costs to programs.
a. The total impact to the federal budget in each year as reported by OMB differs somewhat from the sum of
budget authority for each program area and the estimates of tax expenditures, due to exclusion by OMB of
dollar amounts for certain activities to avoid double-counting.
Source:

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

Ŝȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ
Š¡ȱ¡™Ž—’ž›Žœȱ

In addition to budget authority for CCSP, CCTP, and International Assistance, the federal
government offers a variety of tax incentives to encourage reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions. Table 1 shows an OMB- estimated total of $1.52 billion in climate change-related “tax
expenditures” in FY2008 and FY2007, and has projected these tax expenditures to decrease in
FY2009 to $1.44 billion. Although tax incentives are not federal spending per se, they reduce
revenues to the federal government that would otherwise accrue. In that sense, the loss of
revenues resulting from tax incentives are often presented by OMB as “tax expenditures” of the
federal government. (Hereafter, this report refers to these as “tax expenditures.”) Examples of tax
expenditures related to climate change include credits for purchases of cleaner automobiles, and
investment in renewable electricity generation technologies. Table 1 does not include estimates of
other tax expenditures that may aggravate climate change, such as provisions that promote fossil
fuel production and use.14

žŽŠ›¢ȱ –™ŠŒȱ˜ȱ•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—Žȱ›˜›Š–œȱ
Based on OMB’s data, Table 1 presents the total impact to the federal budget, from FY2001
through FY2008 and the FY2009 request, resulting from budget authority for the three major
climate change program areas and tax expenditures. Though federal spending and losses of
revenues are not alike, this total budgetary impact illustrates the overall level of federal effort, or
cost to the federal government, of identified climate change programs and incentives.
Table 1 suggests that the budgetary impact of reported climate change activities has increased
nearly 85% from FY2001 to the enacted FY2008 level (in constant 2007 dollars). Of the actual
$4.3 billion increase, $2.6 billion—more than 60%—is attributable to expansion of technology
research and development; another $1.5 billion of the budgetary impact is due to tax incentives to
stimulate greenhouse gas reductions (which the Office of Management and Budget projected to
decline in FY2009). For scientific research funding in actual dollars increased by $0.1 billion
from FY2001 to FY2008 enacted, though this represents a decline in funding for climate change
science when accounting for inflation. President Bush’s request for FY2009 would have brought
the funding back up to the FY2001 level in real terms. As discussed in Box 3, however,
conclusions regarding the levels of funding over time can be considered only approximate
because of reporting issues.

14

See also CRS Report RL33578, Energy Tax Policy: History and Current Issues, by (name redacted).

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŝȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Box 3
Clarity and Consistency of Reporting of Climate Change Funding

how funding relates to levels of effort to address climate change is challenged by several reporting issues;
these have been described earlier by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Actual funding for climate change
activities is clouded by the levels of aggregation of the budget request, changes in scope of what is reported, changes
in accounting methods over time, lack of descriptions by agencies in their budget documentation, and omissions of
reporting of some arguably climate-related activities in the overall program. While some improvements were made
following the 2006 GAO report, many issues persist, confounding analysis of the climate change funding.
The President’s budget typically is presented as the aggregation of appropriations accounts, and as changes to certain
activities (but not the totals) below the account level.
Some reported funding changes represent differences in dollar amounts for the same activities over time. Other
changes are because the scope of the climate change programs (which programs are included) has changed; for
example, reporting of nuclear energy and certain coal programs as “climate change” activities began in the FY2003
budget request, though such programs existed in earlier years. This effect of scope adjustments may be substantial:
redefining those two components constituted 9.5% of the entire request for climate change activities in FY2003.
Also, methods of accounting for some activities have changed over time, introducing inconsistencies across years. For
example, within the budgets of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), costs of salaries, laboratories, certain satellites and other expenses were
newly reported as climate change funding in some recent years, whereas they had not been reported as such earlier.
Similar changes in accounting in the FY2009 request continue to make it difficult to ascertain and compare aggregate
levels of funding for climate change over time.
Further, the activities counted as relating to climate change often are below the budget account level; while some
agencies provide adequate detail—though dispersed throughout their budget documentation—others do not mention
the “climate change” relevance in their documentation of certain accounts although portions of them are included in
the climate change reporting. Where the climate change funding is not itemized by an agency, reproducing the
accounting or fully understanding its purpose is not possible.
GAO investigated the Administration’s reporting practices, in 2005 and 2006. GAO recommended that the
Administration provide greater clarity and consistency of reporting on federal funding for climate change activities.
OMB reports in 2006 and 2007 appear to have complied with many of the GAO recommendations, although fully
consistent accounting remains unavailable, particularly for years prior to 2006. As discussed above, inconsistencies
continue to hamper precise comparisons of budgets for climate change activities from year-to-year.
Reference: GAO. Climate Change: Greater Clarity and Consistency Are Needed in Reporting Federal Climate
Change Funding. Statement of John B. Stephenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment GAO-06-1122T.
Washington DC, September 21.
Interpreting

›Žœ’Ž—ȱžœ‘ȂœȱŘŖŖşȱŽšžŽœȱ˜›ȱ•’–ŠŽȱ
‘Š—Žȱž—’—ȱ
Budget authority in FY2008 for activities related to climate change totaled $5.44 billion,
according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).15 President Bush’s budget request for
FY2009 would have increased this funding by 12.3%, to $7.15 billion.16 A Continuing Resolution
15
Data provided by OMB to CRS on April 29, 2008. Tables with data for FY2009, as provided by OMB, are included
in Appendix A of this report. For at least 10 years prior to 2008, OMB prepared an annual report to Congress on
federal climate change budget authority and tax incentives in response to specific statutory requirements. The statutory
requirement was not included in FY2008 appropriations. OMB did not produce a report in 2008 but has provided tables
with estimates corresponding to those in previous years’ reports. Most of the data presented in this CRS report are as
reported in OMB’s previous annual Federal Climate Change Expenditures Reports to Congress and the data tables
provided in 2008 directly to CRS. Additional, more detailed data have been provided by agencies to CRS.
16
See Box 1 for more information on budgetary definitions.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

Şȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

(CR) (P.L. 110-329) extended the FY2008 enacted levels through March 6, 2009 for almost all
climate-related programs.17 The CR continues funding in some cases at levels higher than
requested, and in some cases, lower that the request. Information has not been reported yet on any
changes to climate change funding for FY2009. In addition, extension of tax incentives that may
help to stimulate greenhouse gas reductions (i.e., for renewable energy investments) were passed
late in 2008; the uncertainty through 2008 may have altered the estimated impacts of these tax
incentives for FY2009.

Š“˜›ȱ‘Š—Žœȱ’—ȱ‘ŽȱŘŖŖşȱŽšžŽœȱ
The major changes requested for climate change purposes, compared to the FY2008 enacted
levels, were to:
•

nuclear energy: increase funding for nuclear energy research by at least $302
million and demonstrations by $129 million;

•

fossil energy: increase fossil energy research and development (R&D) by $133
million, mostly for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies;

•

energy efficiency and renewable energy: eliminate Weatherization Assistance
Grants (-$227 million) to low-income households;

•

satellites: increase funding for satellite sensors for radiation and other climaterelated measurements by $177 million in the NASA and NOAA budgets; and

•

international technology deployment: provide an initial installment through
Treasury of $400 million (and a proposed $2 billion over five years) to a new
Clean Technology Fund hosted by the World Bank.

Although the Analytical Perspectives for the FY2009 request18 stated that the FY2009 proposal
for the CCSP would add emphasis to researching the impacts of climate change and for the
science of adaptation, such added emphasis is not apparent in the documentation available in the
multi-agency cross-cut nor in individual agencies’ budget submissions. Almost all the proposed
increases would support observational capacities and technological basic research and
demonstration, not applied policy or management research, assessment, planning or actions.
Several programs that now are devoted to impacts and adaptation are proposed to receive less
funding, such as programs on abrupt climate change and drought research in NOAA. Several
programs for which Congress specifically appropriated funds were not proposed by the Bush
Administration to continue in FY2009, such as $3.4 million enacted for the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) in FY2008 to develop a rule for a mandatory greenhouse gas emission
registry.19 The Administration’s requested changes are discussed in more detail in later sections by
major program area and agency in Appendix D and Appendix E.
17

Although appropriations for FY2009 for the Department of Defense (DOD) were passed in the 110th Congress, it is
unclear whether the levels for climate change-related activities were changed, as these are funded below the
appropriations account detail in DOD’s budget.
18
Executive Office of the President. Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year
2009. U.S. Government Printing Office, 2008.
19
A new funding item for a greenhouse gas reporting registry was enacted at $3 million (after the 1.56% across-theboard reduction). The joint explanatory statement directs EPA to use $3.5 million “to develop and publish a rule
(continued...)

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

şȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

ŘŖŖşȱŽšžŽœȱ‹¢ȱŠ“˜›ȱ›˜›Š–ȱ›ŽŠœȱ
Funding related to climate change is grouped by OMB into three program areas (Figure 1), each
of which consolidates many individual programs and activities across 14 federal agencies. The
three program areas and their FY2009 budget requests are:
•

Climate Change Science Program (CCSP): $2.08 billion;

•

Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP): $4.42 billion; and

•

International Climate Change Assistance: $0.66 billion.

New budget authority for these three program areas since FY2007 appear in Figure 1, as
provided by OMB. The categories of science, technology and international assistance may be
useful for understanding the purposes of federal climate change programs in broad terms.
Arguably, alternative ways of categorizing federal funding for climate change programs may also
be useful to Congress.
As Table 1 and Figure 1 illustrate, most recent growth of funding to address climate change
supports technology research, demonstration and deployment (RD&D)—proposed to expand by
almost $1 billion for FY2009 compared with FY2007. Within the Climate Change Technology
Program, most of the requested funding growth was to support nuclear energy research. If the
Congress had approved the requested $400 million for the Clean Technology Fund, the
international assistance category would have experienced the greatest percentage growth—a
325% increase over the FY2008 enacted budget authority (albeit over a much smaller amount for
international assistance than for the science and technology program areas).

Figure 1. FY2009 Requested New Budget Authority for Climate Change
by Major Program Area, Compared to FY2008 Enacted and FY2007 Actual

millions of dollars

(in millions of nominal dollars)

Source:

8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00657
00000000000
0 0 0 0 0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 004416
000000000000
00 00 00 00 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 188
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 3485
0000000000000
00 00 00 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 202
000000000000000
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 4303
000000000000
00 00 00 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000
000000000000000

1825

1864

2080

FY2007

FY2008
Enacted

FY2009
Request

00 00 00 00
Intl Assistance
00 00 00 00
CCTP

CCSP

CRS Graph based on data provided by U.S. Office of Management and Budget, April 2008.

(...continued)
requiring mandatory reporting of emissions above appropriate thresholds in all sectors of the economy.” House
Committee Report (H.Rept. 110-187, pp. 102-103).

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗŖȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

ŘŖŖşȱŽšžŽœœȱ‹¢ȱ™™•’ŒŠ’˜—œȱ˜ȱž—’—ȱ
Because of the aggregation of funding information that is publicly available, understanding the
specific uses of climate change funds can be challenging. The levels of funding for specific
activities are often unreported or unclear. CRS has conducted preliminary analysis of the amounts
of the FY2009 request that would fund different kinds of applications, from satellite-based
observing systems, to technology R&D, to inventories and registries of greenhouse gas emissions
and sinks. A large portion of the funding request could not be determined for the current analysis.
Most discussion of the uses of funding follow in the sections on the CCSP and the CCTP.
Looking across all applications, though, two categories appear to have the greatest shares of
requested funding for FY2009, exceeding other categories by hundreds of millions of dollars:
•

Nuclear energy research and demonstrations would receive the largest share of
climate-related funding—an estimated $1.40 billion (19.6%) in the FY2009
request. Funding for nuclear energy technology research would be about 30% of
the funding requested for climate change technologies.

•

Satellite-based observations would constitute about 11.8% of all federal climate
change funding for climate change, at the level of $843 million proposed for
FY2009.20 This would be about 11.8% of all climate change funding and 40.5%
of the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) funding. These funds do not
cover most data quality assurance, management, accessibility to researchers or
analysis needed to create value from the observations.

ŘŖŖşȱŽšžŽœȱ‹¢ȱŽ—Œ¢ȱ
Figure 2 illustrates the FY2009 request for new budget authority for 14 participating federal
agencies and for the three climate change program areas. Climate change funding is dominated by
budget authority to two agencies: the Department of Energy (DOE) and to the National Space and
Aeronautics Administration (NASA); together they amount to 74% of the climate change request.

20

The FY2009 estimate provided in this report includes both the funding for NASA Space-Based Observation as
reported by the CCSP Office, as well as the $74 million line item in the President’s FY2009 request for the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), for climate change-related sensors to be added to upcoming earth
observation missions. It does not include operational satellites, which are generally not included in the CCSP budget.
CCSP provides the detail for FY2006 to FY2008 in Table 3 at http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/ocp2008/
ocp2008-budget-table3.htm. Nor do these amounts include funds to manage, provide access to, or analyze the acquired
observations.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗŗȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Figure 2. Requested FY2009 New Budget Authority
for Climate Change Program Areas by Agency
(in millions of dollars)

millions of dollars
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Ene r gy
NASA
Tr e a sur y
Com m e r ce
Agr icult ur e
Na t l Scie nce
US AI D
De f e nse
EPA
Na t l I nst of
St a t e
I nt e r ior (USGS)
Tr a nspor t a t ion
Sm it hsonia n
CCSP FY2009 Proposed
Internat'l Assistance FY2009 Proposed

CCTP FY2009 Proposed

Source: Graph by CRS using budget authority data provided by the Office of Management and Budget, April 30,
2008.

Table 2 indicates by agency the amount of new budget authority reported by OMB for the
FY2003 through the FY2009 request for the 14 federal departments and agencies that administer
the three major climate change program areas. (The totals in Table 1 and Table 2 are not
consistent for FY2003, FY2004, and FY2005 because of OMB accounting adjustments to the
science and technology programs in Table 1; Table 2 is derived from earlier years’ reports which
do not have these adjustments).
The remainder of this report briefly describes each of the three major climate change program
areas, including science, technology, and international assistance, as well as tax provisions that
may encourage reductions in greenhouse gases. Highlights of the FY2009 request, and particular
issues for Congressional consideration are identified in the following sections. Discussions of
funding by agency for the CCSP and the CCTP appear in Appendix D and Appendix E,
respectively.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗŘȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Table 2. Budget Authority for U.S. Climate Change Programs
by Federal Department and Agency:
FY2003-FY2007 Actual, FY2008 Enacted, and President Bush’s FY2009 Request
Department
or Agency
Department of
Agriculture
Department of
Commerce
Department of
Defense
Department of
Energy
Department of
Health & Human
Services
Department of
the Interior
Department of
State
Department of
Transportation
Department of
the Treasury
Environmental
Protection
Agency
National
Aeronautics &
Space
Administration
National Science
Foundation
Smithsonian
Institution
U.S. Agency for
International
Development

FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009
Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Enacted Request

%
Change
FY2008FY2009

$104

$116

$110

$110

$109

$270

$246

-9%

$156

$144

$146

$253

$258

$274

$333

22%

$83

$51

$59

$77

$101

$150

$131

-13%

$2,214

$2,519

$2,469

$2,504

$3,158

$3,780

$3,981

5%

$61

$62

$57

$50

$47

$47

$47

0%

$28

$29

$29

$27

$27

$34

$31

-9%

$6

$6

$7

$12

$41

$41

$46

12%

$27

$9

$3

$17

$18

$20

$22

10%

$56

$52

$44

$46

$46

$46

$446

870%

$124

$127

$130

$128

$121

$128

$114

-11%

$1,298

$1,548

$1,449

$1,082

$1,223

$1,217

$1,321

9%

$213

$226

$209

$215

$228

$226

$244

8%

$6

$6

$6

$6

$6

$6

$6

0%

$214

$195

$183

$190

$114

$129

$185

43%

All
Departments
and Agencies
$4,584 $5,090 $4,900 $4,716 $5,498 $6,369 $7,153
12%
Source: OMB, op. cit., FY2009 (April 2008); FY2008 (May 2007), FY2007 (April 2006) , FY2006 (March 2005),
FY2003 to FY2005 (May 2004).

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗřȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽȱŒ’Ž—ŒŽȱ›˜›Š–ȱǻǼȱ
ŘŖŖşȱŽšžŽœȱ˜›ȱ‘ŽȱȯŸŽ›Ÿ’Ž ȱ
The Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) has been the umbrella organization for informal
management of scientific research on climate change since 2003. It was the extension of a U.S.
research effort that has been underway for several decades. For FY2009, President Bush
requested $2.08 billion to support climate change science under the CCSP. The FY2009 request
was $216 million (12%) above the FY2008 enacted budget authority of $1.82 billion, and $255
million (14%) above the FY2007 level. The CCSP research was intended to help reduce
uncertainties in the science, as highlighted by a National Academies report requested by President
Bush in 2001. A revised research strategy for the CCSP was issued in May 2008 (discussed in a
later section) and may be reflected in President Obama’s request for FY2010.21
The proposed CCSP funding for FY2009 would be provided to 11 federal agencies, with NASA
continuing to receive the largest share—about 58%—with about 64% of NASA’s funding
proposed for space-based observations. Of the total request for FY2009, 16% was proposed for
NOAA; 11% for NSF; and 7% for DOE. The history of U.S. funding for climate change science
since FY1989 is presented in Figure 3 and Appendix C. The amounts are as reported by the
CCSP, which do not appear to reflect OMB’s adjustments to the amounts for FY2003, FY2004,
and FY2005, as presented in Table 1 of this CRS report.
In constant dollars (i.e., adjusted for inflation), the CCSP budget declined by 11% from FY2001
($2.0 billion) through FY2008 enacted ($1.8 billion), down 25% from the funding peak in
FY1995. The FY2009 request would have brought the total back to the FY2001 funding in
constant dollars, although the composition of the research would be altered. The tightening fiscal
environment of federal discretionary budgets has resulted in shifting of funds within almost all
agencies from climate change to other priorities. For example, NASA’s climate-related budget
declined by 24% from FY2000 through FY2008 enacted, after adjusting for inflation (but not for
scope and methodological changes), though an addition of $126 million (12%) was proposed for
space-based observations in the FY2009 request. The decline in climate change-related funding at
NASA reflects the agency’s priority for space exploration, as well as budget constraints imposed
by cost over-runs in space programs.22 In the FY2001 to FY2008 time period, only the budget of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) increased—by 217%—while all
other agencies saw their climate science budgets decline in dollars adjusted for inflation. The
pressure on agencies’ budgets has likely aggravated on-going tension within and among agencies
over funding for this cross-agency objective (climate change science), when agencies are
stretching to meet what they perceive as their core missions.

21
The Climate Change Science Program Office maintains a website with detailed and useful information about U.S.
climate change science, at http://www.climatescience.gov. Available at that site is its annual report, Our Changing
Planet, which provides descriptions of all elements of the climate science program and of each participating agency.
22
National Research Council, An Assessment of Balance in NASA’s Science Programs (Washington: National
Academies Press, 2006).

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗŚȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ŠŒ”›˜ž—ȱŠ—ȱ ’œ˜›’ŒŠ•ȱž—’—ȱ˜›ȱ•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽȱŒ’Ž—ŒŽȱ
Federally-supported research has been conducted for many decades on the potential for rising
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to induce global climate change. In 1971, a panel of the
National Academy of Sciences23 recommended that the United States increase its research into
understanding the dynamics of climate and climate change to $111 million24 for the 10-year
period of 1970-1979.25 (All amounts in this paragraph have been adjusted for inflation to 2007
dollars). After several compelling scientific conferences in the 1980s, federal support for climate
change research rose from these levels up to a peak of funding in FY1995 of $2.28 billion.
Following the FY1995 peak, funds reported for climate change science generally declined
through the $1.83 billion enacted for FY2008. (Figure 3 illustrates the historical funding reported
by the Administration in nominal dollars and adjusted for inflation in constant 2007 dollars.
Supporting data are in Appendix C, Table C-1.)
The rapid growth of funding from 1989 paralleled the enactment by Congress of the Global
Change Research Act (GCRA)(P.L. 101-606), which established the U.S. Global Change
Research Program (US GCRP). The US GCRP in many ways constituted an extension and
expansion of existing science programs and had been conceived by some to exist in parallel with
other research that would more directly support policy and management decision-making. The
latter program was never established, and its absence is reflected in some of the tension today
over the goals and balance of federally supported climate change science.
The CCSP states its mandate under the GCRA as “to improve understanding of uncertainties in
climate science, expand global observing systems, develop science-based resources to support
policymaking and resource management, and communicate findings broadly among scientific and
stakeholder communities.”26

23

National Research Council, The Atmospheric Sciences and Man’s Needs: Priorities for the Future (Washington:
National Academies Press, 1971).
24
In 1970 dollars, the recommendation was for $25 million over ten years.
25
Office of Management and Budget, Federal Climate Change Expenditures: Report to Congress (Washington, 2007),
at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/fy08_climate_change.pdf.
26
CCSPO. 2008. Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Year 2009. Washington
DC: A Report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, August 1.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗśȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Figure 3. Budget Authority for U.S. Climate Change Science:
FY1989-FY2007 Actual, FY2008 Enacted, and FY2009 Request
(millions of U.S. dollars)

2,000

1,500

1,000

Actual $

Constant 2007 $

500

19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
08 20
En 07
ac
te
d

0

Fiscal Years

Source: Climate Change Science Program Office http://www.climatescience.gov.
Arguably, however, little has changed since a 1993 review of the program by the Office of
Technology Assessment concluded that:
Although the program is scientifically well-grounded, it has become overwhelmingly a
physical science program focused on basic Earth system processes that largely ignores the
behavioral, economic, and ecological aspects of environmental problems. For example,
understanding the role clouds play in climate change and the role of the ocean-landatmosphere interface is now its highest priority.... Although the results of the program, as
currently structured, will provide valuable information for predicting climate change, they
will not necessarily contribute to the information needed by public and private
decisionmakers to respond to global change. Three areas are particularly lacking: ecosystemscale research, adaptation research (ecological, human, and economic), and integrated
assessments (evaluation of all focused and contributing research results and their
implications for public policy).27

Although there has been some adjustment to address the problems above, a number of critics
argue that there remain important gaps in the federal program; some have concluded that
structural—potentially legislative—fixes would be necessary, as 15 years of efforts have been
largely unsuccessful.28 As a result, there are several proposals within and outside of the U.S.
Congress to restructure and expand climate change research.

27

OTA. October 1993. Preparing for an Uncertain Climate—Volume 1. U.S. Congress. p. 110-111.
For example, in the FY2009 proposal, the single largest item under “Human Contributions” is to investigate health
impacts of ultraviolet radiation (in HHS)—arguably not a “climate change” activity though important for health
reasons. The second largest element is in NASA—not an agency closely allied with human-related research. These two
agencies manage more than two-thirds of this CCSP element. In earlier years, this category had been called “Human
Dimensions.” The resource management and environment agencies have $23.5 million for human-related research
related to climate change—1% of the total CCSP budget.
28

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗŜȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Since the FY2004 budget, the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) has been composed of
the US GCRP and the Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI), the latter having been
established by President Bush in 2003. There appears to be little practical distinction between
these two efforts within the CCSP. Appendix B describes the organization of agencies under the
federal climate strategy of President Bush, while Appendix D identifies the major climate science
activities of the major agencies.
The CCSP has not been formalized through legislation; the GCRA remains the principal legal
authorization and framework for U.S. federal climate change science. However, there were
several hearings and bills introduced in the 110th Congress concerning the content and
organization of the CCSP, and it is likely that bills to amend or replace the GCRA will be
introduced in the 111th Congress.

ȱ ˜Š•œǰȱ›ŠŽ’Žœǰȱ›˜žŒœȱŠ—ȱŸŠ•žŠ’˜—œȱ
The CCSP is described in an overall strategy, the Climate Change Science Program Strategic
Plan. This plan was published in 2003, with ongoing reviews by the National Academy of
Sciences. The strategic plan was updated in May 2008 under court order.29 As the revised plan
was released in May 2008, its priorities were not necessarily reflected in the FY2009 request to
Congress. The 2008 Strategic Plan did not substantially change the organization of the existing
CCSP, as described below.
The 2003 and 2008 CCSP Strategic Plans grouped research into seven elements:
•

atmospheric composition,

•

climate variability and change,

•

global water cycle,

•

land use/land cover change,

•

global carbon cycle,

•

ecosystems, and

•

human contributions and responses.

Both plans further lay out five goals, which do not correspond closely with these seven research
elements. The proposed FY2009 funding for each goal, as self-identified by agencies and
excluding satellite-based observation funding, is provided below:
•

Goal 1 ($410.6 million): Improve knowledge of the Earth’s past and present
climate and environment, including its natural variability, and improve
understanding of the causes of observed variability and changes,

29

On August 21, 2007, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that the Administration has “unlawfully withheld action” to
update its global change research plan every three years, and ordered that the Administration publish a summary of a
revised proposed Research Plan in the Federal Register no later than March 1, 2008, and that the proposed Research
Plan itself be submitted to Congress not later than 90 days thereafter. The judge also ordered that the Administration
produce an integrated scientific assessment, as required by the GCRA no later than May 31, 2008. Court Order No. C
06-7062 SBA, filed August 21, 2007, from the United States District Court, Northern District of California, Oakland
Division, Center for Biological Diversity et al. v. Dr. William Brennan et al.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗŝȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ
•

Goal 2 (314.8 million): Improve quantification of the forces bringing about
changes in the Earth’s climate and related systems,

•

Goal 3 ($279.8 million): Reduce uncertainty in projections of how the Earth’s
climate and related systems may change in the future,

•

Goal 4 ($160.0 million): Understand the sensitivity and adaptability of different
natural and managed ecosystems and human systems to climate and related
global changes, and

•

Goal 5 ($143.8 million): Explore the uses and identify the limits of evolving
knowledge to manage risks and opportunities related to climate variability and
change.

The identified funding levels do not include all funding for federal climate-related science (e.g.,
research on health risks by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and some activities
reported within CCSP arguably are only tangentially related to climate change (e.g., the $46.8
million in Health and Human Services for human health effects of ultra-violet radiation). Some
reporting issues may have evolved from the absorption by the CCSP of the pre-established Global
Change Research Program, the mandate for which is broader than climate change. Such issues,
however, increase the challenge of identifying what work, and how much funding, in the federal
agencies is directed primarily at climate change science.

ŘŖŖşȱȱ›˜™˜œŠ•œȱ‹¢ȱŒ’Ÿ’’Žœȱ
The main applications of proposed funding, according to CRS analysis of available data (again,
with limitations), would be satellite-based observations, basic science research, and climate
models. Figure 4 provides preliminary CRS analysis of how federal funding for climate change
science is used in different applications, as requested in the FY2009 budget.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗŞȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Figure 4. Applications of CCSP Funding Requested for FY2009
Adaptation
Applied Impacts
Analysis
Biological
Sequestration
Assessment
Carbon Capture and
Storage Assessment
Energy/Economic
Modeling, Mitigation
Analysis
Climate Modeling and
Prediction
Computing and
Information
Infrastructure
Basic Research
Other Observations
Satellite Sensing

0.0

500.0

1000.0

millions of dollars

Source: CRS using data from CCSP and from agencies.
›˜žŒœȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱȱ
The Global Change Research Act of 1990 (GCRA) (P.L. 101-606) requires a scientific assessment
report to Congress at least every four years, as well as annual reports on climate change activities
and budget. The first national assessment complying with the Global Change Research Act was
published in December 2000. The Bush Administration intended a set of synthesis and assessment
products (SAPs), taken together, to meet the four-year reporting requirement of the GCRA.
Synthesis and Assessment Products . The CCSP Strategic Plan aimed to produce 21 SAPs,
originally intended to be completed in 2007.30 Both Members of Congress and environmental
groups disagreed that the series of reports would meet the statutory requirement or meet the needs
of policy-makers. Several environmental groups filed suit against officials in the Bush
Administration to force production of a revised research plan and an integrated, national scientific
assessment.
A Court Order of August 21, 2007 required the following products to be released by the
Administration:
30

Additional information on the SARs, including their content and status, can be found at
http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŗşȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Product

Expected Completion

CCSP Revised Research Plan
Scientific Assessment
“Capstone” Synthesis and Assessment Product
CCSP Strategic Plan 2013 to 2023

May 2008 (completed)
May 2008 (completed)
2009
2010

Revised Research Plan . On May 29, 2008, under court order, the Administration released the
CCSP Revised Research Plan (RRP), in compliance with Section 104(a) of the Global Change
Research Act of 1990.31 This report focused on the 2008 to 2010 period, and noted that it was a
first step toward a new strategy by 2010 covering 2013 to 2023. Public outreach towards that new
strategy reportedly has begun. The RRP retains the same five goals and overall structure as the
2003 Strategy. The RRP distills the main emerging priorities, and similarities and differences
from the 2003 Strategy, in the following four points:
CCSP will continue to provide the basic physical science required to understand Earth’s past
and present climate, including its natural variability, and to improve understanding of the
causes of and uncertainties in observed variability and change at global, continental,
regional, and local scales. CCSP remains committed to basic, ongoing research to understand
climate processes and the forcing factors that cause changes in climate and related systems.
CCSP will increasingly address emerging needs for research to more fully understand the
impacts of climate change on unmanaged and managed ecosystems, human health and
infrastructure, economic, and other human systems.
CCSP will continue to generate science [to] support decision-making related to the
management of risks and opportunities of climate variability and change, including adaptive
management and mitigation efforts, with an increased emphasis on generating scientific
results at regional and local scales.
CCSP will place greater emphasis on communicating with users and stakeholders (e.g., state
and local governments, academia, industry, public utilities, and non-governmental
organizations), both to gain the benefit of their experience, perspectives, and input and to
ensure that the results of CCSP research, monitoring data, and assessments are widely and
easily available and accessible to potential users of this information.32

As the CCSP moves towards revision in 2010 of its strategic plan for 2013 to 2023, the Congress
may consider legislative options to clarify the goals, measures of progress, organization and
processes of federal climate change scientific research.
New Integrative Scientific Assessments . On May 28, 2008, the Bush Administration released
Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Global Change on the United States.33 In addition, the
CCSP will produce an integrative ‘capstone’ product, called the CCSP Unified Synthesis Product
(USP) required in 2009 by the court order. The USP will synthesize information from the 21
SAPs, the 2007 Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and

31

Available at http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/stratplan2008/.
CCSP. (2008) Revised Research Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.
33
http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/scientific-assessment/.
32

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŘŖȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

other recent research. The USP is intended to analyze current understanding of climate change
science, summarize the contributions of the CCSP, and identify important gaps in the science.34

ŸŠ•žŠ’˜—œȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱȱ
The CCSP has employed many panels of the National Academy of Sciences to review aspects of
the climate science program and to provide recommendations for improvements. Multiple
agencies similarly seek reviews from the NAS or other external bodies (e.g. science advisory
boards) and advice. Some common concerns about the CCSP are identified below.
Weaknesses in Leadership and Budget Coherence. While the existing decentralized structure of
the climate change science program brings some advantages, most reviews of the program
conclude that the CCSP lacks sufficient over-arching authority to overcome agencies’ individual
interests and to make budget consistent with cross-cutting priorities. A 2007 National Academies
panel concluded, for example, that “[t]he separation of leadership and budget authority presents a
serious obstacle to progress in the CCSP.”35
Although a number of Members of Congress and interest groups might be interested in
strengthening central leadership of the CCSP through legislative actions, there is no general
consensus—and some active dispute—about which federal entity would be the best site in which
to invest such authority. Options raised have included the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (or a new entity within the Executive Office of the President), the Office of Management
and Budget, the National Science Foundation, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. Some experts have proposed a “climate czar” in the White House, a “troika” of
leaders from existing White House councils, or a new free-standing entity like the U.S. Trade
Representative. One question also raised is whether such leadership should cover only the science
programs, or be extended to all climate change programs (possibly including the Climate Change
Technology Program, new initiatives that might more fully address adaptation or greenhouse gas
mitigation, policy analysis, and international strategies). Some would include energy security
coordination as well, while at least one proposal would subsume climate change leadership under
an “energy czar.” President Obama’s appointment of Carol Browner to be his Assistant for Energy
and Climate Change may fill this role, though the functions and authority of the new position
have not been defined.
Lack of Metrics of Progress . One challenge facing the CCSP is, arguably, lack of clearly
articulated and measurable goals (notwithstanding the qualitative goals cited above). The goals as
articulated define directional change with no definable end-points at which one could declare
“mission accomplished,” or milestones along the way. Such measurable objectives exist for many
of the individual projects funded under the CCSP, but not for the program as a whole. This
potentially presents a challenge in determining priorities and changes in them over time, when
existing or proposed programs cannot be evaluated against their contributions to the overall
product. It also exacerbates some continuing tension between funding for fundamental knowledge

34
More information is available on NOAA’s website: http://www.climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=./ccsp/
unified_synthesis.jsp.
35
National Research Council. 2007. Evaluating Progress of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program: Methods and
Preliminary Results. Committee on Strategic Advice on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Washington DC.
(p.3)

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

Řŗȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

and—under budgetary constraints—calls for greater resources for applied research and actions to
accomplish climate change policy objectives.
A National Academies panel, convened at the request of the former director of the CCSP to
consider how to measure progress for the program, noted that the CCSP Strategic Plan “does not
contain measures of success, and program objectives are written too broadly for them to be
inferred.”36 The panel concluded that metrics could be developed and used for the CCSP, but
highlighted the considerable challenge and cost in identifying, producing, and using a set of
metrics to measure progress for all elements of the CCSP. It also noted that “while some metrics
can measure short-term impacts (e.g., CCSP payoffs scheduled to occur within two to four years),
it may take decades to fully assess the substantial contributions to the global debate on climate
change being made by the CCSP and its predecessor US GCRP.”37 With only qualitative,
directional goals and an absence of detailed management metrics, a 2008 review of the CCSP by
a National Academies panel was forced to rely on a high-level “assessment of strengths and
weaknesses of the entire program, based mainly on the reviewers’ knowledge of program
results.”38
Unclear and Inconsistent Reporting of Programs and Funding . In 2005, the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that “[d]ata and reporting limitations make determining
agencies’ actual levels of climate change funding difficult.”39 GAO made a number of
recommendations and reported in late 2006 that most had been implemented. However, the
difficulty of the present CRS analysis leads to the conclusion that, while many GAOrecommended improvements have been helpful, the fundamental problems with lack of clarity
and consistency persist and confound understanding of how climate change funds have been
applied and evaluation of the efficiency, results, and value of their use.
A recent National Academies panel charged with evaluating the progress of the CCSP concluded
in 2007 that “the detailed budget and management information necessary to score the process and
input metrics [as laid out in a 2005 report on metrics for the program] is not readily available,
even to CCSP agencies.”40 This CRS analysis confirms the 2007 NAS conclusion.
Imbalance between Space-Based Observations and Other Research Elements . The National
Research Council published another report in 200841 evaluating priorities for flight missions and
supporting activities for space-based observations over the coming decade. Many of the satellitebased programs reviewed by the NRC are reported under the CCSP. The assessment concluded
that the value of the observations could be improved by addessing the balance between spacebased and other research components. It concluded that to provide benefits to both science and
36
The Climate Change Science Program Office maintains a website with detailed and useful information about U.S.
climate change science, at http://www.climatescience.gov. Available at that site is its annual report, Our Changing
Planet, which provides descriptions of all elements of the climate science program and of each participating agency.
37
Ibid. Executive Summary, p. 9.
38
National Research Council. 2007. Op.cit. (p. 3)
39
GAO. 2006. Climate Change: Greater Clarity and Consistency are Needed in Reporting Federal Climate Change
Funding. Statement of John B. Stephenson, Director Natural Resources and Environment GAO-06-1122T. Washington
DC, September 21. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d061122t.pdf.
40
National Research Council. 2007. Op. cit. (p.3)
41
National Research Council. 2008. Satellite Observations to Benefit Science and Society: Recommended Missions for
the Next Decade. Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space: A Community Assessment and Strategy
for the Future.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŘŘȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

society—“of equal priority”—the programs needed a foundation of observations collected from
the land, sea, air—as well as space—and that observations needed to be integrated into forecast
models and other tools for decision-making. The current observation systems were noted to have
major weaknesses; the top priority for improvement was obtaining the needed range of
continuous observations, rather than implementing individual space missions. The panel further
concluded that strong observation systems:
will prove useful only if they can be effectively analyzed, interpreted, and applied.... To
realize the potential offered by these missions, resources must be focused in the following
four areas: ensuring sustained observations for operations, research, and monitoring;
obtaining complementary non-space-based observations; turning observations into
knowledge and information; and sustaining the knowledge and information system.42

In sum, the NRC panel found that greater benefits could be gained by redressing existing
imbalances in funding for satellite-based observations with other observation systems and greater
analysis of the information gathered.
Science for Expanding Knowledge versus Practical Applications . An on-going frustration from
some quarters with the climate change science enterprise has been the tension between science for
“the quest to acquire new knowledge” or for “practical benefits for humankind.”43 These
observers conclude that the emphasis of the USGCRP has, since inception, been far more strongly
to observe, understand, and predict global change than to provide useful information to policy
makers.44 A recent critique also concluded that “from execution of the program it is clear that the
agencies consider their mandate to be primarily the support of basic research according to the
specifics of each agency mission.”45 The CRS analysis of the CCSP budget, in the following
section, reinforces this author’s conclusion. The author continued,
Almost all oversight or advisory committees providing input on priorities for carbon cycle
science, whether at the agency or national level, consist exclusively of practicing scientists....
Even Congress members charged with reviewing budgets for science have been reluctant to
challenge the paradigm that ‘unfettered’ basic research will eventually result in societal
benefit, with some notable exceptions.... The processes that govern the prioritization,
selection, advocacy and accountability for research stem from the internal operating norms of
the scientific community and are extremely appropriate for basic, curiosity-driven research.
Should the community wish to shift their research agency to one more focused on the needs
of society, however, changes in the operating norms would be appropriate.

Similarly, a 2007 study by the National Research Council concluded that “the full potential of
societal benefits from NASA products will not be realized unless users are involved directly in
determining priorities, designing products, and evaluating benefits.”46 Looking at the CCSP
overall, a National Academies panel concluded in Evaluating Progress of the U.S. Climate
Change Science Program—Methods and Preliminary Results (2007) that “if the program is to
achieve its vision of producing information that can be used to formulate strategies for
42

Ibid, p. 27.
NRC, ibid, p. 2.
44
Lengthy discussion of this issue appears in OTA. 1993. Preparing for an Uncertain Climate—Volume 1, Chapter 3.
45
Dilling, Lisa. 2007. “Towards science in support of decision making: characterizing the supply of carbon cycle
science.” Environmental Science & Policy 10:1 (February): 48-61.
46
National Research Council. 2007. Assessment of the NASA Applied Sciences Program. National Academies Press. p.
112.
43

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

Řřȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

preventing, mitigating, and adapting to effects of climate change, adjustments will have to be
made in the balance between science and applications.”47
Myriad interest groups have put forward proposals for how the CCSP might be restructured; it is
beyond the scope of the current report to review and evaluate these. In sum, alternative proposals
would vest more central authority in one agency or in the White House, give that authority greater
budgetary control, augment input from potential users of the science, and improve the overall
budget decision-making. Some proposals would expand the science program to include more
applied research and analysis to serve private and government needs, and increase public
communications and outreach, while other proposals would expand such activities in a separate
institutional structure. Several bills introduced in the 110th Congress48 would accomplish some of
these proposals.

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽȱŽŒ‘—˜•˜¢ȱ›˜›Š–ȱǻǼȱ
By the 1990s, on-going federal research on various energy technologies and on carbon storage in
soils and vegetation were recognized as potentially contributing to the technological change that
would be required for a major reduction of GHG in the atmosphere. President Clinton packaged
some research into the Climate Change Technology Initiative in 1998. President Bush in 2002
repackaged many of the same activities into the U.S. Climate Change Technology Program
(CCTP). The composition of the broad climate technology programs have changed over time.
The CCTP was authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005)(P.L. 109-58). EPAct
directed the President to establish a Committee on Climate Change Technology to “integrate
current Federal climate reports” and carry out climate change technology activities and programs
to implement a required strategy (§1610(b)(1)). The Secretary of Energy was designated to chair
this Committee. The Committee was required to produce a strategy within 18 months from
enactment (which was August 8, 2005) to “promote the deployment and commercialization of
greenhouse gas intensity reducing technologies and practices developed through research and
development programs conducted by the National Laboratories, other Federal research facilities,
institutions of higher education, and the private sector” (§1610(c)(1)). A CCTP Strategic Plan
was published in September 2006, envisioning a $3 billion program. (By comparison, the
FY2008 enacted level was $3.49 billion; the FY2009 request was for $4.41 billion; and, a
Continuing Resolution continues funding at the FY2008 enacted level through March 6, 2009.)
EPAct requires the strategy to be updated every five years or more frequently.
EPAct 2005 also established the Climate Change Technology Program “within the Department of
Energy” (§1610(d)), to “carry out the programs authorized under this section.” Besides
preparation of the national strategy, the programs authorized under §1610 are:
•

47
48

to prepare inventories and evaluation of GHG intensity-reducing technologies,
including a report to Congress;

National Research Council. 2007. Op.cit. (p. 6).
Including H.R. 6, H.R. 906, H.R. 1961, H.R. 2809, S. 309, S. 1018, and S. 2307.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŘŚȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ
•

to identify the need for technology demonstration projects, including a report to
Congress on barriers to, and commercial risks of, technologies and a plan for
demonstrations;

•

to develop standards and best practices for calculating, monitoring and analyzing
GHG intensity;

•

to support demonstration projects; and

•

to enter into cooperative research and development agreements.

These activities are arguably much narrower than the scope of activities identified under
President Bush’s CCTP, as described in the FY2009 budget request (and others).
The CCTP, as defined by President Bush, is composed of programs administered by 11 agencies,
plus the Executive Office of the President. It is coordinated by the Department of Energy and
overseen by the interagency Committee on Climate Change Science and Technology Integration
(see Appendix B). The CCTP objective is to accelerate the technological advances needed to
facilitate the reduction and avoidance, as well as capture and storage, of man-made emissions of
greenhouse gases (GHG). While the 2006 Strategic Plan sets many milestones for demonstrations
of specific technologies, there are no specific targets or measures for greenhouse gas emissions or
capture in the CCTP Strategic Plan.49
The six strategic goals outlined by the CCTP are to advance development of technologies that:
•

reduce emissions from energy end-use and infrastructure,

•

reduce emissions from energy supply,

•

capture and sequester carbon dioxide,

•

reduce emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases,

•

improve capabilities to measure and monitor GHG emissions, and

•

bolster basic scientific contributions to technology development.

As reported by OMB, federal funding for climate change technology has increased from $845
million in FY1993 to $4.53 billion enacted for FY2008, a $3.70 billion (536%) increase.
President Bush’s FY2009 budget requested $4.41 billion for FY2009, a $114 million increase
(3%) above FY2008.50 As requested, the CCTP would constitute 62% of federal funding on
climate change (as reported by OMB). However, the actual increase in funding for these efforts
may be lower than the reported dollar amounts suggest, as the agencies and OMB have redefined
the initiatives included within the CCTP over time. For example, an increasing number of
existing nuclear energy programs, as well as some clean coal programs, have been added to the
count in later years though they existed but were not included in OMB’s earlier reporting of
climate change technology funding.
Such changes make it difficult to track the content and evolution of specific climate change
technology efforts, and funding for them, across the years. GAO has made similar observations,
49

U.S. Climate Change Technology Program, U.S. Climate Change Technology Program Strategic Plan (Washington,
2006); http://www.climatetechnology.gov/stratplan/final/index.htm.
50
A Continuing Resolution continue funding for FY2009 at FY2008 enacted levels through March 6, 2009.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

Řśȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

and has identified several ways that technology funding presented in OMB’s more recent reports
may not be comparable to previously reported technology funding,51 introducing uncertainty in
the funding trend. As quantified results expected from programs are set and monitored (as
required under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993),52 redefinitions of program
areas also may complicate performance tracking and accountability, in addition to making
funding comparisons difficult from year to year.

ȱž—’—ȱ‹¢ȱŽŒ‘—˜•˜¢ȱ
Generally, funding for the CCTP is presented by agency and program. CRS analyzed data for the
FY2009 funding request by technology across programs and agencies.53 The preliminary results
are in Figure 5. The reported CCTP funds do not constitute all the funding and other financial
incentives for research, development and deployment of technologies; they are a subset selected
according to OMB guidelines for the CCTP.54 According to the data available, 29% of the funds
requested for the CCTP for FY2009 would support nuclear energy (equivalent to 20% of all
funding for climate change activities). Funding for nuclear energy research would be more than
twice the amount requested for any other technology category. The next largest categories in the
CRS analysis are mixes of technologies: 13% of the FY2009 request is for programs that either
support multiple technologies or the specific technologies have not been identified. Another 12%
of the funding would support renewable energy technologies other than biomass and biofuels,
such as wind, solar, and others.
Appendix F provides a table of funding highlighting the Administration’s stated priorities for
specific technologies planned for development by DOE and EPA under the CCTP. These are not
necessarily the technologies receiving the largest funding reported under the CCTP, or among all
climate-related R&D.
There is broad support for federal interventions to stimulate technological advance, and multiple
studies have shown that effectively stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions over the coming century
would require radical technological change compared to current patterns globally.55 Such rapid
change has some precedent, but on narrower geographical and economic scales, for example, the
transformation of France’s electricity sector to nuclear energy, or the adoption of private motor
vehicles. The former example was driven by governmental fiat and the latter by the large private
benefits associated with vehicle ownership and use. The U.S. technology strategy has been, thus
far, one of federal sponsorship of research on specified technologies. But, there is no clear
relationship between federal investment in particular technologies and success in
51

GAO. Climate Change: Greater Clarity and Consistency Are Needed in Reporting Federal Climate Change
Funding. GAO-06-1122T. September 2006, p. 3.
52
P.L. 103-62.
53
Most of the detailed funding data were provide by the management office of the CCTP in the Department of Energy.
54
An alternative historical analysis of federal financial support to energy technologies is Management Information
Services, Inc. 2008. Analysis of Federal Expenditures for Energy Development. Prepared for the Nuclear Energy
Institute, Washington DC. The MISI analysis includes broader funding, as well as tax policy effects, government
services, regulations and other forms of support that are not included for the CCTP accounts. It concludes that nearly
three-quarters of federal support for energy from 1950 to 2006 has promoted fossil fuels.
55
See CRS Report RL33970, Greenhouse Gas Emission Drivers: Population, Economic Development and Growth,
and Energy Use, by (name redacted) and (name redacted); and CRS Report 98-738,
Global Climate Change: Three Policy
Perspectives, by (name redacted) and (name redacted).

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŘŜȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

commercialization, and there may be substantial inefficiencies or opposition to governmental
“picking and choosing” of technologies.
Moreover, there is a much wider array of public incentives that affect private technology choice
than those identified under the CCTP; these other incentives may support the climate-related
investments or may counteract them.56 There are likely opportunities to improve efficiencies of
federal stimulation of technological advance by reviewing them all as a package and considering
their cumulative effects.

56

For example, see CRS Report RL33578, Energy Tax Policy: History and Current Issues, by (name redacted), or
MISI 2008, op.cit.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

Řŝȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Figure 5. Estimated CCTP Funding Requested for FY2009 by Technology Type
CCTP Program Direction

2

Methane Recovery/Use

7

GHG Measurement,
Inventories, Analysis

15

Biomass/Sequestration

24

Fossil Energy Program
Direction

122

Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability

122

EERE Program Direction

141
355

Vehicles/Transportation/Aviation
Energy Efficiency

271

Other Coal

277

Carbon Capture and Storage

400

Biomass/Biofuels

423
559

Other Renewable Energy
Other, Multiple Technologies,
and Unspecified

635
1401

Nuclear Energy
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

millions of dollars

Source: CRS estimates using data provided by CCTP.
The CCTP supports technological advance at all stages of research, development, demonstrations,
and deployment (RDD&D). Figure 6 shows the shares of the CCTP proposed for FY2009 for
these different stages, according to data provided by the CCTP. More than two-thirds of CCTP
funding supports basic research as well as development of specific technologies. As technologies
prove promising for commercial use, programs support activities such as demonstrations at the
pilot and bench scales. When technologies are ready for commercialization, or are already
commercialized but adopted in markets more slowly than is advantageous, federal programs
encourage deployment through targeted information, technical assistance and other measures.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

ŘŞȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Figure 6. FY2009 CCTP Request by Stage of Technology
11%
5%
16%

R&D

68%

Demonstrations
International Deployment
Domestic Deployment

Source: CRS using data provided by CCTP.
A very small portion of CCTP funding—perhaps 5%—supports technology deployment in the
United States. Congress appropriates funds to DOE, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to administer more than 60 programs to promote
voluntary adoption of technologies that are more efficient or reduce greenhouses gases, relative to
the average of each technology available commercially. Programs include Energy Star, Climate
Leaders, the Methane Partnership Initiatives, Value Added Producer Grants, and many others.57

ȱž—’—ȱ‹¢ȱŽ—Œ¢ȱ
Figure 7 compares CCTP funding levels by agency as enacted for FY2008 and requested for
FY2009. It does not display the agencies with less than 1% of the CCTP funding. Neither does
this figure provide all related federal R&D funding, nor does it display other forms of support for
technologies, such as tax exemptions or government procurement. In the FY2009 request, DOE
would have represented 87% ($3.8 billion) of the new budget authority for the CCTP—two
percentage points and $183 million more than in the FY2008 enacted level, which continues in
FY2009 under a continuing resolution. USDA would have received about 4%, while DOD and
NASA would have each received about 3%, of the $4.42 billion request for CCTP for FY2009.
The EPA and NSF would have received 2% and 1%, respectively. Descriptions of CCTPidentified activities by agency are in Appendix E.

57
Some technology deployment programs are described on the EPA’s website: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
policy/neartermghgreduction.html. Also Table 4-2 of the U.S.’s Fourth Climate Action Report to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change identifies the GHG reductions expected to be stimulated by each program, though the
individual estimates are not additive. This report can be found on the Department of State website:
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/rpts/car/index.htm.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

Řşȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

Figure 7. Comparison of CCTP Funding by Agency
for FY2008 Enacted and FY2009 Requested Levels
4500.0

$3,835

4000.0

$3,653

millions of dollars

3500.0
3000.0
2500.0

2000.0
1500.0
1000.0

500.0

$205 $183

$150 $131

USDA

DOD

$109 $98

$139 $116

$21 $23

EPA

NASA

NSF

0.0

DOE
FY2008 enacted

FY2009 requested

Source: CRS figure using DOE CCTP data

—Ž›—Š’˜—Š•ȱ•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—Žȱœœ’œŠ—ŒŽȱ
The third major program in President Bush’s climate change strategy was International Climate
Change Assistance, to encourage other countries to slow and then reduce their emissions of
greenhouse gas emissions. A major policy challenge is negotiating international commitments to
address climate change after 2012, and especially gaining global engagement in GHG mitigation.
Developing countries have stated that their degree of participation will depend on the degree to
which the industrialized countries have fulfilled their commitments under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These commitments include financial
and technological assistance to the lower income countries and to countries that may be harmed
by policies to abate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The United States, as one of the wealthiest
nations and the leading emitter historically of GHG, is considered worldwide to have
extraordinary responsibility to address climate change. Most people consider that, while
addressing climate change must be a common, global effort, the United States must play a leading
role among nations.
President Bush’s request would have more than tripled federal funding of climate change-related
international programs, from $202 million enacted for FY2008 to $657 million for FY2009. The
principal increase would provide a proposed $400 million “first installment” to a new Clean
Technology Fund (CTF) established in 2008 and managed by the World Bank.

‘Žȱ•ŽŠ—ȱŽŒ‘—˜•˜¢ȱž—ȱǻǼȱ
On Sept. 30, 2008, the U.S. Treasury committed $2 billion for the Clean Technology Fund (CTF),
with a first installment of $400 million in grant money to be provided once appropriated by
Congress. At the same meeting, up to $6.14 billion in total were pledged by Australia, France,
Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the
United States for the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) of the World Bank: CTF and the Strategic
Climate Fund (SCF). These funds would provide grants and concessional loans to developing

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

řŖȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

ȱ

countries in order to facilitate greenhouse gas emission reductions and preparations for adaptation
to climate change. According to the CIF website,
Two trust funds are being created under the Climate Investment Funds. The Clean
Technology Fund, will invest in projects and programs in developing countries that
contribute to the demonstration, deployment, and transfer of low-carbon technologies. The
projects or programs must have a significant potential for long-term greenhouse gas savings.
The second fund, the Strategic Climate Fund, will be broader and more flexible in scope. It
will serve as an overarching fund for various programs to test innovative approaches to
climate change. The first program under this fund is a pilot aimed at increasing climate
resilience in developing countries. A Forest Investment Program and a Scaling-Up
Renewable Energy Program are also expected to be created in the coming months.58

The financing is intended to help meet existing commitments of the United States and other
developed countries for financial assistance to developing countries. This commitment would
supplement other obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, for which some multilateral mechanism exist. (See, for example, the discussion on the
Global Environmental Facility, below.) Accompanying the funds is the hope that the commitment
will increase trust and garner developing countries’ engagement in new GHG mitigation
commitments in the current round of negotiations on climate change actions.59 60
There is general acknowledgment that more, and more effective, assistance to developing
countries would be necessary to reduce their GHG trajectories. Several debates, however, have
emerged over the CTF: which technologies should be financed? which countries should receive
CTF assistance? should funds aim at transforming recipients’ energy economies, or at making
marginal changes in large countries? might the CTF substitute for reform of World Bank policy to
make all its investments less emitting? and—perhaps most strategic—how does the CTF fit into
the confusing set of existing and emerging funds to promote GHG mitigation and adaptation to
climate change?

—’ŽȱŠŽœȱŽ—Œ¢ȱ˜›ȱ —Ž›—Š’˜—Š•ȱŽŸŽ•˜™–Ž—ȱǻ Ǽȱ
President Bush’s request also would have increased international climate change assistance
through USAID by $50 million, from $115 million enacted for FY2008 to a proposed $165
million in FY2009. A Continuing Resolution extends the FY2008 funding level through March 6,
2009. Although the FY2009 requested amount would still be lower than the level of $190 million
enacted for FY2006, a large part of the decrease from the FY2006 funding was $28 million
eliminated for “modern energy services” in Afghanistan.61 USAID does not distinguish funding
58
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21916602~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~
theSitePK:4607,00.html.
59
See CRS Report RL33826, Climate Change: The Kyoto Protocol, Bali "Action Plan," and International Actions, by
(name redacted) and (name redacted).
60
For more on the Clean Technology Fund, see CRS Report RS22989, The World Bank's Clean Technology Fund
(CTF), by (name redacted) and (name redacted).
61
For FY2008 and FY2009, no language was included requiring that US AID spending on climate change be itemized.
The Foreign Operations appropriation for FY2006, Section 585(a) stated, “Of the funds appropriated under the heading
‘Development Assistance,’ ... not less than $180,000,000 shall be made available to support clean energy and other
climate change policies and programs in developing countries, of which $100,000,000 should be made available to
directly promote and deploy energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable and clean energy technologies, and
of which the balance should be made available to directly: (1) measure, monitor, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
(continued...)

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

řŗȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

for measuring, monitoring, reporting, verification and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
from other activities in the relevant sectors.

œ’ŠȬŠŒ’’ŒȱŠ›—Ž›œ‘’™ȱ˜—ȱ•ŽŠ—ȱŽŸŽ•˜™–Ž—ȱŠ—ȱ•’–ŠŽȱǻǼȱ
In the FY2009 request, the international assistance category included $52 million for the
Department of State, $37 million of which would support the APP (compared to $32 million
enacted for FY2008, extended through March 6, 2009 by a Continuing Resolution). Reported in
other agencies under the Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP) and intended for the APP
were another $15 million requested for the Department of Energy ($7.5 million enacted for
FY2008), and $2 million for the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration
(zero in FY2008), and $5 million for the Environmental Protection Agency (with no appropriation
for APP for FY2008). Both the House and Senate passed bills for FY2009 appropriations for
many DOE programs (though none was enacted into law) and, in them, both committees rejected
the request to fund the Asia Pacific Partnership.62 This is consistent with past appropriations, and
funds for the APP have never been appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency either.
The APP is a voluntary partnership that aims to advance technologies that may help reduce the
greenhouse gas intensity of partner nations: the United States, Canada, China, India, South Korea,
Australia and Japan. The initial set of projects under the APP’s workplan emphasizes sectoral
assessments, capacity building, identifying best practices, and technology research and
demonstration.63 Some critics argue that the APP is a diversion from cooperation under the United
Nations and the UN FCCC, but few would deny that technological advance in the major
developing countries will be essential to reducing their projected greenhouse gas emissions.64

‘Žȱ •˜‹Š•ȱ—Ÿ’›˜—–Ž—ȱŠŒ’•’¢ȱǻ ǼȱŠ—ȱ’’˜—Š•ȱ
˜––’–Ž—œȱ
Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)—to which the
United States became a Party in 1992—the wealthier “Annex I” Parties committed to “provide
new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full costs incurred by developing
country Parties” to comply with certain obligations, such as producing GHG inventories, and the
“agreed full incremental costs of implementing measures” (UNFCCC Article 3). In federal
climate change funding, under international assistance, is $26 million reported for FY2009 as the
United States’ climate-related contribution to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The
FY2009 requested level was the same as in FY2007 to FY2008. The GEF is the principal
financial mechanism of the UNFCCC related to Article 3, and it is managed by the World Bank.
The GEF supports projects to demonstrate innovative clean energy production and efficient

(...continued)
(2) increase carbon sequestration activities; and (3) enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation programs.”
62
During debate over the FY2008 request for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the
Administration threatened to veto the appropriations bill, in part, due to the lack of funding for APP.
63
For more information, see CRS Report RL33826, Climate Change: The Kyoto Protocol, Bali "Action Plan," and
International Actions, by (name redacted) and (name redacted), for a brief summary of the APP.
64
More information about the Asia-Pacific Partnership may be found at http://asiapacificpartnership.org/default.aspx.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

řŘȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

energy use.65 To complement the GEF and bilateral arrangements, the Conference of the Parties to
the UNFCCC set up the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDC Fund) to assist the poorest
countries to adapt to climate change; it restricts eligibility to Least Developed Countries; projects
must be short-term, urgent and meet high priority needs; and projects must be derived from
completed National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) (the development of which may
be supported by the LDC Fund). For FY2009, the Senate-passed bill for foreign operations
(S.Rept. 110-425) would have enacted $20 million for the LDC Fund. It was not enacted into law,
however. The Continuing Resolution continues funding through March 6, 2009 at FY2008 levels,
which did not include an explicit contribution to the LDC Fund.
The UNFCCC Parties also set up the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) to leverage additional
resources from bilateral and multilateral sources in four areas of action: adaptation to climate
change; transfer of technologies; energy, transport, agriculture, forestry and waste management;
and activities to assist diversification of the economies of those developing countries that depend
greatly on fossil fuel production. The United States has not contributed to the SCCF.
Parties to the Kyoto Protocol—the United States is not a Party—also set up an Adaptation Fund
(AF). The AF is to be financed, at least in part, by a 2% surcharge on emission reduction credits
exchanged through the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It may also be
financed by voluntary contributions of countries or private entities. The United States is not
obligated to contribute to the AF, but may face pressure to make voluntary contributions.
The degree to which Congress appropriates assistance to developing countries will likely
influence the degree to which the Department of State can enhance U.S. credibility and garner
developing countries’ engagement in new GHG mitigation commitments for the post-2012
period. On the other hand, providing assistance alone cannot guarantee that developing countries
will consider it measurable, reportable and verifiable finance, technology and capacity-building,
as called for under the Bali Action Plan of 2007. Another issue, in some countries’ views, is
whether financial assistance provided outside of the financial mechanisms of the UNFCCC
should be regarded as fulfilling financial commitments under the Convention. Controversy is
likely as well over how multilateral funds might be managed. Further issues concern whether
financing will be considered “new and additional,” any conditions placed on the financing, and
whether the funds are “adequate” and “predictable.”

Ž‹ȱŽœ›žŒž›’—ȱ˜ȱ›ŽœŽ›ŸŽȱ›˜™’ŒŠ•ȱ˜›Žœœȱ
The United States also encourages countries to conserve tropical rain forests, thereby avoiding
greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the removal by trees of carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere. It does this by a “swap” of a country’s debt for payment into conservation funds,
authorized by the Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA)(P.L. 108-323). The FY2009 request
included $20 million for the Treasury Department for debt restructuring for tropical forestry
conservation—the same as in recent years—in the Treasury Department’s budget for climaterelated debt restructuring programs.66

65

For background on the GEF, see CRS Report RS21858, Global Environment Facility (GEF): Overview, by (name red
acted).
66
For more information, see CRS Report RL31286, Debt-for-Nature Initiatives and the Tropical Forest Conservation
Act: Status and Implementation, by (name redacted).

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

řřȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

Š¡ȱ›˜Ÿ’œ’˜—œȱ
The fourth major type of financial support to climate change activities reported by the
Administration is tax provisions or “tax expenditures.” Tax provisions, often not for the explicit
purpose of addressing climate change, may contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by
establishing incentives for incremental investments in technologies (e.g., wind energy) that emit
less than the technologies they are thought to replace (e.g., fossil fuel combustion). In its federal
expenditures reports, OMB enumerates certain tax expenditures, which are the estimated loss of
federal revenues that result from taxpayers taking advantage of these preferential tax treatments.
OMB’s estimates of tax expenditures rose sharply overall from $580 million in FY2003 to $1.52
billion in FY2007 (Table 1). The rise in the estimates from FY2006 to FY2007 was primarily due
to expected loss of revenues resulting from tax incentives included in the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (P.L. 109-58). These provisions were due to expire at the end of 2008.67 OMB projected the
estimated tax expenditures to remain at $1.52 billion for FY2008 and then fall to $1.4 billion in
FY2009, and continue to decline through 2013. These projections are likely altered by the
extension in late 2008 of various incentives for renewable energy included in the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343).
One policy issue related to the tax provisions is their continuity over periods of time that are
consistent with planning and construction of large capital projects, including commercial wind
and other renewable energy installations. Because these take a number of years to execute, tax
provisions may not predictably be available for a sufficiently long period for investors to take
advantage of them for entirely new facilities (as opposed to facilities that may already have been
planned). This could reduce the effectiveness of tax incentives to help to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. On the other hand, the tax incentives are intended to stimulate deployment of new
technologies, rather than to support a market that may not become commercially viable.
The full effects of tax incentives could be understood only in the context of other tax provisions
that support activities that may aggravate climate change, such as support for fossil fuel
production and use; data on these are not provided by OMB. Existence of tax incentives for both
low-GHG-emitting technologies and high-GHG-emitting technologies likely counteract each
other, and together would mask the full cost of energy to consumers. While tax provisions support
a variety of policy objectives, such as energy security and employment, overall efficiencies may
be gained by revising the counter-acting provisions in the context of meeting several objectives
together (and supporting “win-win”measures). Such analysis, however, is beyond the scope of
this report.68

67
Tax expenditures were reported for 11 types of tax credits, deductions, and exclusions for a wide variety of energy
efficiency and renewable energy investments. OMB’s estimated value of these tax expenditures jumped sharply from
$369 million in FY2005 to $1.16 billion in FY2006, and to $1.73 billion in FY2007. This rise in estimates was
primarily based on tax incentives authorized in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58), specifically in Title XIII
of that statute, the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005.
68
For related analysis, see CRS Report RL33578, Energy Tax Policy: History and Current Issues, by (name reda
cted).

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

řŚȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

›’—Œ’™Š•ȱ‹œŽ›ŸŠ’˜—œȱŠ—ȱŽ’œ•Š’ŸŽȱ œœžŽœȱ
Over the past two decades, federal funding related to climate change has expanded from scientific
research, almost exclusively, to a wide variety of programs to: develop and disseminate
technologies; build a foundation for future policy actions; plan for adaptation; assist lower
income countries; and address additional needs. As the debate continues over appropriate
strategies to address climate change, the needs and priorities for funding are likely to evolve
further.

˜ȱ’—•Žȱ ˜Š•ȱ•’—œȱ‘ŽȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ˜›ȱ
There has not been an overarching policy goal for climate change that guides the programs
funded or the priorities among programs. U.S. federal policy on climate change has been a
coalescence of separate goals—evolved distinctly for science, technology, energy production,
foreign assistance, and trade—not a single, integrated strategy. The current federal effort largely
has been built “bottom up” from a variety of existing programs, Presidential initiatives, and
Congressionally-directed activities. Choices tend to be based on departmental missions and the
degree of support for the input activities. There is no synthesis that establishes quantitatively, or
even qualitatively, how federal funding will lead to accomplishment of a national climate change
goal.
As President-elect, Barack Obama stated, on December 15, 2008, that “the effort before us will
demand coordination across the government, and my personal engagement as President.”69 To
assist with these, he has designated former EPA Administrator Carol Browner to be Assistant to
the President for Energy and Climate Change. While President Obama has announced the
intention of establishing a cap-and-trade system to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
to 1990 levels by 2020, and by 80% from 2005 levels by 2050, it remains to be seen how his
goals will translate into funding proposals and program alignment.

Ž™˜›’—ȱ’‘ȱŽŽ›ȱŽ›ŸŽȱ˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽŽœȱ
For FY2008, no legislative language required the Executive Branch to report a cross-cut budget
for climate change activities, as had been the case for more than a decade. The Executive Branch
consequently did not produce a consolidated annual report on climate change funding in 2008.
The Global Change Research Program, however produced its annual report, Our Changing
Planet, for the science programs, although the detail of budget information is limited.
(Spreadsheets were available upon request to the Office of Management and Budget.) The
absence of a requirement for a cross-program, cross-cut budget continues into FY2009.
Agencies vary in the degree to which they identify and explain climate-related activities in their
separate budget justifications. In some cases, OMB’s cross-cut spreadsheets include activities that
are not noted in agency budget justifications as related to climate change; in other cases, agencies
identify activities as climate change-related that are not included in OMB’s tallies. It would be
69

http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_barack_obama_announces_key_members_of_energy_and_environ
men/.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

řśȱ

ȱ

•’–ŠŽȱ‘Š—ŽDZȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›˜›Š–ȱž—’—ȱŠ—ȱŠ¡ȱ —ŒŽ—’ŸŽœȱ

extremely difficult to construct an accurate overview of climate change funding without such an
OMB-assisted cross-cut. The Congress may elect to continue with the status quo, in terms of
separate agency budget reports, which may or may not identify climate change-related programs,
or wish to re-instate a reporting requirement for climate change funding and tax incentives. If

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3ARL33817. Public record. Not legal advice.