Wednesday, November 12, 1997

8:30 Welcome and Introductions

• Dr. D. James Baker, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Dr. John Gibbons, Science Advisor to the President, and Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy

9:00 Presentations

Session Chair: Dr. Robert Corell, Chair, Subcommittee on Global Change Research

• Scientific Understanding of Climate Change: Dr. Eric Barron, Pennsylvania State University
• Impacts of Climate Change: Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Plans for a National Assessment: Dr. Jerry Melillo, The Ecosystem Center, Marine Biological Laboratory

10:30 Regional Breakout Groups

Panelists will provide an overview of the current stresses and possible climate change impacts; participants are asked to identify the most important questions that the assessment should address to meet their needs

• The Eastern U.S. (New England, Mid-Atlantic, Appalachians, Southeast inland areas): Co-convenors: John Aber and Joanne Denworth
• Coastal Regions and Islands (coastal regions of the mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean and Hawaii and Pacific islands): Co-convenors: Donald Boesch and Virginia Burkett
• The Heartland (Eastern Midwest, Great Lakes): Co-convenors: J.C. Randolph and Peter Sousounis
• The Great Plains (North Dakota to Texas): Co-convenors: Lenora Bohren and Dennis Ojima
• The Dry West (Great Basin, California, Southwest): Co-convenors: Jill Baron and Robert Wilkinson
• The Northwestern U.S. (Pacific Northwest, Alaska): Co-convenors: Jay Inslee and Glenn Juday

3:30 Plenary: Reports on Breakout Groups

Session Chair: Mr. Paul Dresler, Department of the Interior

Thursday, November 13, 1997

8:30 Plenary Addresses

• Ms. Katie McGinty, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality
• Mr. Bruce Babbitt, Secretary, Department of Interior

9:00 Sectoral Breakout Groups (similar format and objectives as regional groups):

• Food Availability: Co-convenors: Richard Adams and Floyd Horn
• Water Availability and Quality: Co-convenors: Patrick Mulholland and Katharine Jacobs
• Ecosystem Services: Co-convenors: Anthony Janetos and Robert Naiman
• Human Health: Co-convenors: Jonathan Patz and James Fouts
• Forests: Co-convenors: Jerry Franklin and Norman Christensen
• Cities and Communities: Co-convenors: Susan Hanson and Thomas Wilbanks
• Energy: Co-convenors: William Moomaw and Richard Richels
• Commerce, Industry and Trade: Co-convenors: John Carberry and William Hooke

1:00 Plenary: Reports on Breakout Groups

Session Chair: Dr. Aristides Patrinos, Department of Energy

2:30 Synthesis Panel

Panelists identify critical elements for the synthesis portion of the assessment. Session Chair: Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, Office of Science and Technology Policy. Panel members include:

• Walt Reid, World Resources Institute
• Eric Barron, Pennsylvania State University
• Granger Morgan, Carnegie-Mellon University
• Blair Henry, Northwest Council on Climate Change
• Mike Rodemeyer, United States Congress
• Molly Olsen, former President's Council on Sustainable Development
• Robert Friedman, Heinz Foundation

4:00 Plenary: General Discussion, Conclusions, and Charge to Attendees

Session Chair: Dr. Jerry Melillo