Bill Overview
Title: CASC Act
Description: This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of the Interior's National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers. The centers must provide scientific expertise to managers of natural resources, cultural resources, and ecosystem services to inform decisions that aid adaptation to a changing climate and extreme weather events. The program shall include a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers. Among its activities, the National Center shall serve as the national office for the regional centers, develop and facilitate coordination among the regional centers, and conduct research on cross-regional and national science priorities. Regional centers shall develop research, education, training, and advisory service priorities regarding the impacts of climate trends and variability on natural and cultural resource management. Interior shall establish an Advisory Committee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences to advise the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers on specified matters, including (1) the contents of a national strategy identifying key climate adaptation science priorities to advance the management of natural and cultural resources in the face of climate change; and (2) the integration of equity, particularly for historically underserved communities, in the operation of the National Center and regional centers.
Sponsors: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by climate change
Estimated Size: 332000000
- The bill focuses on providing scientific support for climate adaptation, which will primarily impact those who manage or depend on natural resources, cultural resources, and ecosystem services.
- The bill includes provisions for research, education, and training, suggesting it will also affect educational institutions, researchers, and students.
- By aiming to improve adaptation to climate change, the bill will indirectly impact all those affected by climate-related events and changes, such as farmers, coastal communities, and industries reliant on stable environmental conditions.
- Globally, climate change has the potential to affect everyone, but especially those in vulnerable regions or industries.
Reasoning
- The CASC Act impacts a diverse set of stakeholders ranging from natural resource managers to individuals indirectly affected by climate change.
- The budget constraints and program size prioritize regions and sectors with immediate needs or significant climate vulnerability.
- Educational institutions, researchers, and communities depending on ecosystem services are particularly targeted by the Act.
- Both immediate impacts on decision-makers and long-term effects on general population well-being are relevant due to the nature of climate adaptation.
Simulated Interviews
Fisherman (Florida)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Climate changes have made it tough for fishing. The Act might bring helpful insights into adapting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Environmental Scientist (California)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Act is crucial for my work and will likely boost our research capabilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Farmer (Kansas)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the Act will provide valuable strategies to manage changing climate impacts on farming.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 1 |
College Professor (North Carolina)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act could enrich our curriculum with updated, locally-relevant research.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Louisiana)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Efforts in better climate understanding are welcome to possibly prevent damage from storms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Park Ranger (Arizona)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Insights from the Act can assist in managing increased wildfire risks and conservation challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
City Planner (New York)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Advancements from this Act can tremendously aid in efficient city planning against floods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Graduate Student (Chicago)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The research from the Act could provide amazing resources for my studies and future work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Oil Industry Worker (Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I'm skeptical, if this Act helps the state handle extreme weather better, it might be good.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Wildlife Biologist (Alaska)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased support for adaptation science from this Act can greatly aid wildlife conservation and indigenous community plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $220000000)
Year 2: $195000000 (Low: $175000000, High: $215000000)
Year 3: $192000000 (Low: $172000000, High: $212000000)
Year 5: $188000000 (Low: $168000000, High: $208000000)
Year 10: $180000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $200000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Initial set-up costs are significant due to new center establishments.
- Long-term benefits include reduced costs from climate-related damages and improved resource management.
- Uncertainty in climate impacts may affect the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of adaptation measures.
- The success of the centers heavily depends on cross-regional collaboration and data sharing.