Public policymaking and climate change: The essential but little known contribution of earth science remote sensing data and products

This paper traces the evolution of space-derived remote sensing data and data products from their initial dissemination to their eventual impact on the nature and outcome of public policy addressing climate change issues. We focus on two examples, renewable energy and public health and ecosystem assessment, in tracing US policy debate and the influence of science results on that debate. The research seeks to answer the question posed by Congress, NASA administrators, and other decision makers about what has been the contribution of space-derived earth science in "making a difference" in societal well being. We find that even though policymakers themselves can be unaware of the role of earth science, much of their debate is informed (or not) depending on the extent to which science results have been appropriately translated and communicated for the purposes of improving the quality of debate. The usual "route" of influence is by way of "decision support systems", or the collection of tools, methods, and data that enable researchers to use earth science in scenarios that ask "what it" or "what causes". Research results are increasingly being carried forward to policy debate including but not limited to public and ecosystem health, carbon management, and energy issues