U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey 33 rd IGC | International Consortium of Geological Surveys An Integrated Strategy for Government-Sponsored Science Mark Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey 11 August 2008 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

Night light produced largely from fossil fuels An index of population and human power in the environment NASA Lots of Us Using Lots of Stuff! Night light produced largely from fossil fuels

Human-induced changes on a global scale Rising demand for resources Approaching thresholds of ecosystems Scientific knowledge is essential for a sustainable society Rising demand for resources Approaching thresholds of ecosystems Scientific knowledge is essential for a sustainable society

Ecosystem Services Goods and services of value to humans that come from natural systems Not well integrated into decision making Not fully valued in economic discussions, societal decisions Markets are insufficient to convey benefits of ecosystems Goods and services of value to humans that come from natural systems Not well integrated into decision making Not fully valued in economic discussions, societal decisions Markets are insufficient to convey benefits of ecosystems

Finding balance - environment and people

Science – a bridge to rational solutions Evangelical Leaders Join Global Warming Initiative - New York Times February 8, 2006 By LAURIE GOODSTEIN Despite opposition from some of their colleagues, 86 evangelical Christian leaders have decided to back a major initiative to fight global warming, saying "millions of people could die in this century Copper prices set another record By Dale Funk, Contributing Editor Apr 1, :00 PM While most wire and cable industry veterans and commodity analysts expected 2006 to be a year of moderation for copper prices, when copper jumped 9.45 cents to nearly $2.36 a pound on March 17 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, it set another record. A British experts report on climate change warns that failure to curb global warming could trigger worldwide economic devastation, with poor countries hit first and hardest. Prime Minister Tony Blair called for urgent international action.

The Relevance of National Surveys Authoritative, unbiased Authoritative, unbiased Accessible Accessible Extensive national and global observation networks and databases require a national commitment Extensive national and global observation networks and databases require a national commitment Historical perspective essential for information continuity and archival Historical perspective essential for information continuity and archival Decision support tools Partnerships optimize science resources, build consensus Decision support tools Partnerships optimize science resources, build consensus

USGS Science Strategy Understanding Ecosystems and Predicting Ecosystem Change Climate Variability and Change Energy and Minerals for America’s Future A National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment Program The Role of Environment and Wildlife in Human Health A Water Census of the United States Data Integration and Beyond

Circum-Arctic Resources Assessment First publicly available petroleum resource estimate of the entire area north of the Arctic Circle; released 23 July First publicly available petroleum resource estimate of the entire area north of the Arctic Circle; released 23 July Conducted with international partners Conducted with international partners Geological Survey of Canada Geological Survey of Canada Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland U.S. Minerals Management Service U.S. Minerals Management Service Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Norwegian Petroleum Directorate USGS World Energy Consortium USGS World Energy Consortium Cambridge Arctic Shelves Programme Cambridge Arctic Shelves Programme

Polar bears and a changing Arctic USGS science findings contributed to the DOI decision to list polar bears as a threatened species 1. Sea ice is vital to polar bear survival 2. Sea ice habitat has dramatically melted in recent decades 3. Models suggest sea is ice likely to further recede in the future USGS science findings contributed to the DOI decision to list polar bears as a threatened species 1. Sea ice is vital to polar bear survival 2. Sea ice habitat has dramatically melted in recent decades 3. Models suggest sea is ice likely to further recede in the future USGS studies other impacts of changing Arctic conditions USGS studies other impacts of changing Arctic conditions Other Arctic species Other Arctic species Recoverability of energy resources Recoverability of energy resources Law Of The Sea issues Law Of The Sea issues

Great Southern California Shakeout

New frontiers for Geological Surveys Beyond traditional categories of natural resources Beyond traditional categories of natural resources Assess energy alternatives Assess energy alternatives Consider societal resilience Consider societal resilience Expand as vital sources for science information Toward future geological surveys