It's amazing how quickly environmental issues can become politicized. In the past 10 years, for example, many attempts at real discussions about issues such as global warming or air-quality standards quickly have become mired in political rhetoric. That is understandable, given that policies surrounding these issues could potentially have huge impacts not only on the environment, but also on national and regional economies and certain business sectors such as agriculture or tourism. But considering what is at stake, decision makers and politicians on both sides of the aisle should be able to agree upon at least one thing: policies should be based on the best available scientific information. Regardless of political affiliation, anyone who really wants to address energy policy, environmental quality, public health, or transportation will benefit from improved environmental data. Understanding the interrelationship between human activities and the environment is not a political issue.

A great deal of progress has been made in the last decade on climate modeling and collecting and analyzing data about global change. However, its value has been limited by the patchwork of today's observing systems - each focused on specific environmental problems or organizational missions. Researchers are also hampered by limited computer access for developing and evaluating science-based models, and by the multitude of overlapping agency programs, roles, and responsibilities. The challenge of finding a stable balance between society, the economy, and the environment calls for a new kind of integrated, sustained observing system and the development of indicators that can guide decision making. It's up to the federal government to take responsibility for ensuring that society receives the best return from the investments made in environmental science and observing networks.

Measurement systems used by the National Weather Service and the U.S. Census Bureau have become vital to the nation, as well as systems used to develop economic indicators such as the gross national product. An integrated network for climate observation and modeling could be just as important. For example, better environmental observation and assessment could help policy makers and researchers understand relationships between seasonal climate changes and agricultural productivity or energy demand; explore links between industrial activity, atmospheric chemistry, and public health; and assess the status of ecosystems.

Many federal programs are already in place to monitor climate change, collect data, and conduct research that supports important environmental decisions. But some major limitations are preventing the information from being fully integrated and applied, leaving the United States incapable of addressing meaningfully the regional and local impacts of climate change. For instance, the nation cannot predict how climate conditions might affect outbreaks of disease - mainly because there is no single federal agency with sufficient scope to support research integrating social and natural sciences for examining the human dimensions of environmental change. The task is, however, well within the means of the U.S. government and its international partners.

The need to provide regionally meaningful information about environmental change calls for an entirely new management philosophy. The federal government should establish a high-level institutional arrangement that would coordinate global and regional environmental research across agencies and scientific disciplines. One possible solution would be to create a national environmental council - similar to the councils that exist for national security or economic policy in the executive office of the president. Another option is strengthening and modifying existing research structures or broadening their mandates. Whatever approach is used, the government should ensure that resources can be directed to integrating information and to studying emerging areas that go beyond a single federal agency's jurisdiction.

Crucial decisions concerning the environment are made every day by farmers, city planners, public health officials, water-resource managers, and countless others. Combining environmental observations with information technologies, such as the Internet and geographic information systems, could provide ready access to data that could dramatically improve decision-making.

The scientific capabilities to create an integrated decision-support system are in place. It's up the government to find the political will to make it a reality.