Climate Effects Program Coordination

In an evaluation of coordination between climate science centers (CSCs) and landscape conservation cooperatives (LCCs), we examined whether the CSCs and LCCs coordinated their programs and used available tools to prevent duplication of research efforts. 

 

Both the CSCs and LCCs fund scientific research through grants and cooperative agreements. The CSCs and LCCs received nearly $50 million in Federal funding each fiscal year from 2013 through 2015. 

 

We found issues with organizational policy and use of database systems at both organizations. Specifically, we found that the CSCs and LCCs have not implemented sufficient internal controls or policies to coordinate research and have failed to use available technology to share information. At the LCCs we also found poor project tracking. Further, the CSCs and LCCs in our sample fully neglected their responsibility to share data with Data.gov as required by executive order.

 

We provided three recommendations to help the CSCs and LCCs more effectively coordinate their research grant programs and share information with Federal, State, local, and private-sector colleagues.