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Overview
Climate change is now near-universally recognized as a serious challenge. Statements from political leaders, industry CEOs, environmental groups, and major evangelical associations have made the expanding consensus undeniable. Yet the United States remains without a climate change policy that can command broad domestic support. This deadlock is entirely understandable: meaningful measures to address climate change would affect a wide range of important and powerful domestic interests. Such measures would also alter the international landscape, both for American business and for U.S. diplomacy. As consensus grows around the need to do something, the problem becomes one of translating that into a concrete and viable agenda for action.
Led by former governor of New York George E. Pataki and former governor of Iowa Thomas J. Vilsack, the Task Force (made up of some of the nation's leading scientists, economists, business leaders and security and foreign policy thinkers) examines the economics, science, and politics of climate change. In this report, it proposes a comprehensive U.S. strategy to address the challenges that climate change presents, with special emphasis on those that explicitly involve foreign policy.
Synopsis
The Council sponsors an Independent Task Force when an issue of critical importance to U.S. foreign policy arises, and it seems that a group diverse in backgrounds and perspectives may nonetheless be able to reach a meaningful consensus on policy through private and nonpartisan deliberations. Task Force members are asked to join a consensus signifying that they endorse "the general policy thrust and judgments reached by the group, though not necessarily every finding and recommendation." Individual views and dissents that sharpen differences of analysis and prescription are also encouraged. Once formed, Task Forces are independent. Upon reaching a conclusion, a Task Force issues a report, which the Council publishes and posts on its website. Task Force chairs, directors, and members are solely responsible for the content of their reports.