EPA scientists are 

conducting critical 

research to improve 

national, regional, 

and local response 

capabilities to global 

change. 

Global Change Research Program

www.epa.gov/ord

 EPA/600/F-07/007 | June 2007 | www.epa.gov/ord

For more information, contact:

Joel D. Scheraga, Ph.D.

National Program Director 

Global Change Research Program

202-564-3385 • scheraga.joel@epa.gov

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Research and Development

Washington, DC 20460

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Office of Research and Development Palette Last Updated February 26, 2007

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science in actiOn

B U i l d i n g A S c i E n t i f i c f o U n d A t i o n f o r S o U n d E n v i r o n m E n t A l d E c i S i o n S

Research to Assess the

Impacts of GLOBAL CHANGE

Global Change Research Program

www.epa.gov/ord
The program assesses the potential consequences of global change, 

particularly climate variability and change on air and water quality, 

ecosystems, and human health.

Developing Decision Support Tools

Global change researchers worldwide are studying changes 

to the Earth that are impacting the environment and humans 

such as climate variation, land-use activities, and other 

stressors. EPA’s Global Change Research Program is 

making contributions by assessing the impacts of global 

change (particularly climate variability and change) on air 

and water quality, ecosystems, and human health in the 

United States, and then investigating adaptation options.

The multidisciplinary program integrates information from 

the physical, biological, and social sciences to develop 

decision support tools for resource managers and decision 

makers. The tools are used to improve society’s ability to 

effectively respond to the environmental and public health 

impacts of global change. 

The program uses a place-based approach because the 

impacts of global change and their solutions are often 

unique to a location. Partnerships are established with 

locally based decision makers to ensure that the program 

is responsive to their unique scientific information needs 

and the socioeconomic realities at their locales.

Making a Difference

The Global Change Research Program is evaluated 

through extensive review by EPA’s independent Board of 

Scientific Counselors (BOSC). A review in 2006 by the 

BOSC concluded that the program has conducted the 

“right work” and done it “well.” The program’s earlier 

emphases on regional assessment of the consequences of 

global change and involvement of stakeholders are deemed 

pioneering. The program has improved understanding of 

global change and ways to adapt to it. 

The program closely coordinates with the U.S. Climate 

Change Science Program. EPA and the other 12 

participating agencies address key scientific questions 

about the effects of global change, and develop and 

provide timely, useful, and scientifically sound information 

to decision makers. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

is an active partner of a larger federal effort to 

provide the best possible science to support public 

discussion and decision-making on climate-related 

issues. Researchers in EPA’s Global Change Research 

Program in the Office of Research and Development 

are providing timely and useful information to 

respond to a changing climate.

“The program has provided substantial benefits to the nation and ... is on 

course to make significant further contributions to societal outcomes.” 

Board of Scientific Counselors Review, March 27, 2006

Global Change Research Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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B U i l d i n g A S c i E n t i f i c f o U n d A t i o n f o r S o U n d E n v i r o n m E n t A l d E c i S i o n S

Preventing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome 

The assessments done by EPA’s Global Change Research 

Program have led to on-the-ground interventions to prevent 

disease and protect the public’s health. In partnership 

with The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public 

Health, the program discovered that the 1993 outbreak of 

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in the Southwestern 

United States was due to increased rodent populations 

caused by unusual weather associated with the El Niño 

Southern Oscillation event of 1991-92. The program found 

that high-risk areas for the disease can be predicted over six 

months in advance with the use of satellite-generated maps 

of climate-sensitive land cover. This led to the development 

of risk maps in partnership with the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention and the Indian Health Service. The 

maps are being used for disease prevention in the Southwest 

by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

Partnering with the World Health Organization

The research program supports efforts by the World Health 

Organization (WHO) to develop strategies for responding 

to the health risks posed by climate change. In 2003, 

with support from EPA’s Global Change Research Program, 

WHO published the book Climate Change and Human 

Health: Risks and Responses. EPA scientists co-authored 

three chapters and one scientist served as an editor. This 

collaboration also led to the research program’s participation 

in the writing of the Synthesis Report for the Health Sector, 

which was prepared as part of the Millennium Ecosystem 

Assessment. The assessment involved more than 1,360 

experts worldwide to provide a state-of-the-art scientific 

appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s 

ecosystems and the services they provide.

Success Stories

EPA’s Global Change Research Program has 

improved understanding of global change and delivered 

decision support tools to enable resource managers to 

consider the impacts of global change when making 

decisions to protect the environment and public health. 

Developing Tools for Water Resource Managers

The program developed a Climate Assessment Tool to help 

water resource managers address the high sensitivity of water 

resources and aquatic ecosystems to changes in climate. 

This tool is incorporated into EPA’s watershed management 

program, BASINS (Better Assessment Science Integrating 

Point and Nonpoint Sources). The tool allows managers to 

meet future demands for water and water quality regulations 

by considering changes in the risk of floods and droughts, 

river channel stability, water quality, and wildlife habitats 

due to climate change.

Preventing Combined Sewer System Overflows

Aging Combined Sewer Systems in the United States are being 

redesigned to comply with EPA’s Combined Sewer Overflow 

Control Policy. These systems collect and co-treat storm water 

and municipal water, and are designed to overflow directly to 

surface waters when their design capacity is exceeded. Intense 

storms can cause combined sewer systems to exceed their 

capacity and result in the discharge of untreated storm and 

waste water into streams. Climate change is already leading 

to an increase in the number of intense rainfall events. The 

program has demonstrated that redesigned systems might 

not satisfy EPA’s control policies if they are rebuilt without 

considering climate change. The program has shown that the 

risks are manageable. It is possible to anticipate the effects of 

climate change on these systems and to adapt their new designs 

to increase their effectiveness.

Assessing Impacts on Water Quality Standards

EPA’s Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) program allocates 

pollutant loads to water bodies. The research program has shown 

that climate change could lead to more intense precipitation 

events that could increase runoff, alter stream flow, and lead to 

higher annual costs at publicly owned treatment works in the 

Great Lakes region. 

Protecting Drinking Water Systems from Sea Level Rise

Drinking water systems that derive their supplies from surface

water and groundwater will be put at risk in varying degrees 

and in different ways from rising sea levels. Several million 

people are served by coastal surface water systems that are 

unprotected from sea level rise. However, the research 

program has shown that only five surface water systems 

serving over 100,000 people are at high risk of salt water 

intrusion. The greater risk from salt water is faced by coastal 

systems that derive their supplies from groundwater. For 

example, the program has identified the groundwater supplies 

in Florida that are vulnerable to sea level rise.

Assessing Impacts on Air Quality

The research program is assessing the effects of global change 

on air quality across the United States. The initial assessment 

of the effects of climate change on air quality will be completed 

by September 2007. The long-term goal is to provide air quality 

managers and decision makers with the scientific information 

and models they need to protect air quality from the impacts of 

global change. This assessment is unique among federal agencies.

Protecting Coral Reefs

The health and survival of the world’s coral reefs are at risk 

because of climate change, pollution, UV radiation, and overfishing. The Global Program partnered with the U.S. Coral Reef Task 

Force, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to publish 

A Reef Manager’s Guide to Coral Bleaching. The guide is used 

by resource managers to protect these critical ecosystems.