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Science integration into US climate and ocean policy

Nature Climate Change volume 4, pages 671–677 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

The pace of environmental change lends urgency to the need for integration of climate considerations into ocean policy and management. A recent rapid expansion of ocean and climate policies provides a timely window of opportunity for the scientific community to inform and support these efforts. Lessons can be learned from successful initiatives, where scientists are working hand-in-hand with decision makers and managers to enhance ocean resilience. Looking ahead, the most pressing decision-needs associated with oceans and climate change should serve to prioritize and drive scientific efforts.

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Figure 1: Images of drought in the US southeast, including the Carolinas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the National Climate Assessment Oceans and Marine Resources technical input team and chapter author team, as well as participants in the workshop on 'Sustaining national climate assessments of oceans and coasts', for providing information and perspectives that were instrumental to the development of this manuscript. We also thank F. Choi for his assistance in conceptualization of figures, as well as K. Lackstrom for input on the drought case study. This is publication number 317 of the Northeastern University Marine Science Center. The article contents are solely the opinions of the authors and do not constitute a statement of policy, decision or position on behalf of NOAA, the US government, Conservation International or the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium.

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Author notes

  1. Laura E. Petes and Jennifer F. Howard: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Climate Program Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 20910, Maryland, USA

    Laura E. Petes

  2. Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive #500, Arlington, 22202, Virginia, USA

    Jennifer F. Howard

  3. Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences and School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University, Marine Science Center, 430 Nahant Road, Nahant, 01908, Massachusetts, USA

    Brian S. Helmuth

  4. South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, 287 Meeting Street, Charleston, 29407, South Carolina, USA

    Elizabeth K. Fly

  5. Department of Geography, Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments, University of South Carolina, 709 Bull Street, Columbia, 29208, South Carolina, USA

    Elizabeth K. Fly

Authors
  1. Laura E. Petes
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  2. Jennifer F. Howard
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  3. Brian S. Helmuth
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Contributions

L.P. and J.H. contributed equally to conceptualization and writing of this manuscript. B.H. helped to develop the concepts for the paper, B.H. and E.F. contributed to writing, and J.H., E.F., B.H., and L.P. led the development of figures and tables.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura E. Petes.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Petes, L., Howard, J., Helmuth, B. et al. Science integration into US climate and ocean policy. Nature Clim Change 4, 671–677 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2312

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