THE ROLE OF EARTH SCIENTISTS AND THE PUBLIC IN COMPLEX CLIMATE AND ENERGY ISSUES

Mitigating climate change impacts and transitioning to less climate-impacting energy systems involves successful local and national policies on low-carbon energy systems, management of energy waste products, and sustainability of key resources such as water. Climate, energy, and water are closely coupled, and earth scientists have long played a key role in resource development for energy and in the environmental protection and management of water resources. For example, scientists at the National Labs are currently assessing whether transportation fuel can be extracted from oil shale while managing carbon emissions and water use. Scientists’ knowledge of the relationship between climate impacts and the hydrologic cycle is essential to informing the public about the value of water sustainability and conservation efforts, particularly when the benefits of such efforts may not be obvious on the time scale of a single generation. Scientists are also called upon to manage waste products from energy systems that impact climate or the environment, for example through geologic storage of carbon dioxide and radioactive waste. Waste disposal systems are often controversial and can depend on public acceptance for success.

The importance of public participation in the success of energy and environmental policy can be seen in the different fates of two geologic radioactive waste repositories in the western United States. Selection of a site for radioactive waste disposal at Yucca Mountain was the result of a top-down policy imposed by Congress. Lack of public acceptance and political opposition in Nevada had roots in the perception that the siting process was not fair or based on scientific merit. After years of pressure from Nevada lawmakers, Congress plans to terminate the project. In contrast, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico has accepted transuranic radioactive waste since 1999. City leaders in Carlsbad asked the federal government in the early 1970s to site the repository near Carlsbad and public acceptance has grown steadily in response to economic benefits and public confidence that the repository can operate safely. This demonstrates that controversial energy and environmental projects are more likely to succeed when policy makers, the public, and scientists work in partnership.