
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC2931]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
                   CHAPTER 56A--GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH
 
       SUBCHAPTER I--UNITED STATES GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM
 
Sec. 2931. Findings and purpose


(a) Findings

    The Congress makes the following findings:
        (1) Industrial, agricultural, and other human activities, 
    coupled with an expanding world population, are contributing to 
    processes of global change that may significantly alter the Earth 
    habitat within a few human generations.
        (2) Such human-induced changes, in conjunction with natural 
    fluctuations, may lead to significant global warming and thus alter 
    world climate patterns and increase global sea levels. Over the next 
    century, these consequences could adversely affect world 
    agricultural and marine production, coastal habitability, biological 
    diversity, human health, and global economic and social well-being.
        (3) The release of chlorofluorocarbons and other stratospheric 
    ozone-depleting substances is rapidly reducing the ability of the 
    atmosphere to screen out harmful ultraviolet radiation, which could 
    adversely affect human health and ecological systems.
        (4) Development of effective policies to abate, mitigate, and 
    cope with global change will rely on greatly improved scientific 
    understanding of global environmental processes and on our ability 
    to distinguish human-induced from natural global change.
        (5) New developments in interdisciplinary Earth sciences, global 
    observing systems, and computing technology make possible 
    significant advances in the scientific understanding and prediction 
    of these global changes and their effects.
        (6) Although significant Federal global change research efforts 
    are underway, an effective Federal research program will require 
    efficient interagency coordination, and coordination with the 
    research activities of State, private, and international entities.

(b) Purpose

    The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for development and 
coordination of a comprehensive and integrated United States research 
program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, 
assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of 
global change.

(Pub. L. 101-606, title I, Sec. 101, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3096.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 2932 of this title.
