Time: “What Cuts to FEMA, Climate Agencies Mean During a Government Shutdown”
RFF Vice President for Research and Policy Engagement Carlos Martín comments on the role of good data and long-term planning.
“‘Basic cuts in data collection means that everything from private companies and corporations through state and local governments can't plan,’ says Carlos Martín, vice president for research and policy engagement at the nonprofit research institution Resources for the Future. ‘You need data about your demographics, greenhouse gas emissions to basically compete on a global level, to sell products internationally, and to prepare for your workforce and long-term viability of communities.’
Even before the threat of a shutdown, lags in data collection have left the country unprepared for a major disaster. ‘It’s long-term planning that makes [the difference between] these shocks being stronger and more impactful, or more muted and mitigated,’ says Martín. ‘So it's important to realize that we are setting ourselves up for some serious problems.’”
