National Institute for Climate Change Research
Stored: National Institute for Climate Change Research
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National Institute for Climate Change Research (NICCR) was a Department of Energy initiative that coordinated climate change research across four regional centers and one coastal center, supporting studies on ecosystem responses to rising temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions from 2007 to 2013.
Mission
The National Institute for Climate Change Research sought to deepen scientific knowledge of how climate change, driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, impacts terrestrial ecosystems and their potential feedback to the climate system. It funded research projects across the U.S. to examine biological responses—such as shifts in plant ranges and carbon cycling—and provided data to policymakers and scientists addressing global warming’s ecological consequences.[1]
Parent organization
The National Institute for Climate Change Research operated under the Department of Energy, specifically within the Office of Science’s Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, which supports fundamental research on climate and environmental systems.[2]
Legislation
The NICCR was not established by specific legislation but was initiated in 2007 under DOE’s discretionary authority within the Office of Science, reflecting priorities set by broader energy and climate policies like the Energy Policy Act of 2005.[3]
Partners
- Northern Arizona University (Western Regional Center)
- Duke University (Southeastern Regional Center)[4]
- Michigan Technological University (Midwestern Regional Center)
- Tufts University (Northeastern Regional Center)
- University of Alabama (Coastal Center)
Number of employees
The exact number of employees in NICCR is not specified, as it functioned as a funding and coordination entity staffed through its regional centers and DOE’s BER program, not as a standalone employer.[5]
Organization structure
NICCR was a distributed network managed centrally by DOE’s BER program:
Leader
The National Institute for Climate Change Research was headed by a Director within the BER program.[6]
Divisions
The divisions included:
- Western Regional Center for western U.S. ecosystems.[7]
- Southeastern Regional Center for southeastern ecosystems.
- Midwestern Regional Center for midwestern ecosystems.
- Northeastern Regional Center for northeastern ecosystems.
- Coastal Center for coastal ecosystem studies.
List of programs
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Response Studies[8]
- Carbon Cycle Feedback Research
- Climate Modeling Integration Projects
Last total enacted budget
The total budget for NICCR was approximately $11 million over its lifespan from 2007 to 2013, funded through DOE’s Office of Science.[9]
Staff
NICCR’s staff consisted of researchers and administrators at its five centers, supported by DOE BER personnel, with no distinct employee count; efforts were project-based across universities.[10]
Funding
NICCR was funded with an $11 million allocation from DOE’s Office of Science between 2007 and 2013, supporting grants for ecological climate research until its conclusion.[11]
Services provided
The Institute provided research grants to study climate impacts on ecosystems, supported ecological data collection and analysis, integrated findings into climate models, and disseminated results to enhance scientific and policy understanding.[12]
Regulations overseen
NICCR did not oversee federal regulations but supported DOE’s climate research aligned with national environmental policies.[13]
Headquarters address
1200 N Herndon St, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
History
The National Institute for Climate Change Research was launched in 2007 by DOE’s Office of Science to fund research on climate change’s biological impacts, operating through five regional centers until its funding ended around 2013, with its mission rooted in DOE’s broader environmental research priorities rather than a specific legislative act.[14]
External links
References
- ↑ "BER History". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/biological-and-environmental-research-history.
- ↑ "About BER". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/about.
- ↑ "BER History". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/biological-and-environmental-research-history.
- ↑ "NICCR Western Regional Center". Northern Arizona University. http://niccr.nau.edu/.
- ↑ "About BER". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/about.
- ↑ "BER History". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/biological-and-environmental-research-history.
- ↑ "NICCR Western Regional Center". Northern Arizona University. http://niccr.nau.edu/.
- ↑ "NICCR Western Regional Center". Northern Arizona University. http://niccr.nau.edu/.
- ↑ "BER History". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/biological-and-environmental-research-history.
- ↑ "About BER". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/about.
- ↑ "BER History". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/biological-and-environmental-research-history.
- ↑ "NICCR Western Regional Center". Northern Arizona University. http://niccr.nau.edu/.
- ↑ "About BER". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/about.
- ↑ "BER History". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/biological-and-environmental-research-history.