A message from President & CEO Dr. R. Max Holmes
I am writing from Belém, Brazil, a city at the edge of both the Amazon forest and the Atlantic Ocean and host of COP30—the thirtieth annual meeting of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change treaty, what is often referred to as the UN climate conference.
The location of this year’s meeting is significant in multiple ways. The treaty was adopted in Rio de Janeiro, so returning to Brazil is something of a homecoming. And Belém’s location puts particular emphasis on the importance of tropical forests and nature-based climate solutions more broadly.
Woodwell Climate has more than a dozen science and policy experts at COP30 sharing our science, informing negotiations, deepening relationships, and exploring new possibilities. We are advocating for more ambitious climate goals that take into account emissions from permafrost thaw, wildfires, and other ecosystem changes; for equitable, effective finance mechanisms that can get money flowing to the people best positioned to protect tropical forests; for science-based national adaptation plans and indicators that will enable us to track our progress toward global resilience.
It is exciting, even exhilarating, work. And yet, the “30” in COP30 raises uneasy questions. This is the thirtieth time the nations of the world have come together to chart a path toward a just, livable climate future. Why is progress so slow? What can possibly be left to negotiate? Is it all worth the effort?
As these questions were bouncing around in my head, I started to wonder what the originators of the process think of where we are. One of those originators, Kilaparti Ramakrishna (known to many as Rama), was among Woodwell Climate’s first employees and is currently a member of our Board of Directors. So I reached out and asked him. In response, he shared an essay he was working on which began this way:
“When we were drafting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1991–1992, few of us could have imagined that the negotiations we began would still be unfolding three decades later. But we did know that we were creating something designed to last. The Convention was never meant to be a one-off agreement that “solved” climate change; it was conceived as a living framework, a foundation for continuous, evolving cooperation guided by science, equity, and common purpose.”
That is, in itself, a lofty goal. And by that measure, the UNFCCC has been a resounding success. It has weathered numerous, dramatic, often rapid, geopolitical shifts over the past three decades. Particularly now, in an era of rising nationalism around the world, it is remarkable that any multilateral process should persist for so long. It is an enormous testament to the many negotiators and advocates who have held to that vision and worked tirelessly to advance, however incrementally, a truly global framework for addressing climate change.
Obviously, it has not been without setbacks. One front of mind for many right now is the fact that the U.S. has withdrawn—not just once, but twice. And on that note, Rama had another frameshift to offer. Each time the U.S. has stepped back, progress has slowed. There is no denying that. But the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement have continued nonetheless. That is because others have stepped into greater leadership and responsibility, and that makes the process, as a whole, stronger in the long run.
And this is a long run. Climate change is a challenge of unprecedented scope and import. It has been decades in the making, and the consequences will span every aspect of society for decades, if not centuries, to come. The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change is a correspondingly unprecedented response that cannot be expected to yield results overnight. It remains the only forum for truly global discourse and collaboration on climate issues, and that is invaluable.
So let’s celebrate that this is the thirtieth COP, acknowledging that progress has been slower than any of us would want but recognizing that we are in a much better place than we would be without the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Let’s also look ahead to COP40, COP50, and even COP60, imagining the world we want in the future and resolving to do everything we possibly can to realize that vision.
That is what keeps me going. That is what keeps Woodwell going. On behalf of all of us, thank you for the privilege of doing this work.
Onward,
On October 29, Woodwell Climate submitted public comment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP).
The impacts of climate change on the frequency and severity of physical hazards are putting many communities at risk. As the threat of climate change grows, so too does the need for accessible information, tools, and expertise to support climate-resilient decision making across multiple scales, from communities to countries. Woodwell Climate Research Center believes there is a need to localize and customize climate risk assessments. This information is critical for local government leaders as they make planning decisions, but it is not available to all communities. Woodwell believes that this science should be freely and widely available. To address this gap, Woodwell works with communities across the world, including Louisville, KY, to provide community climate risk assessments, free of charge. This report was generated in partnership with the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (Louisville MSD), so we have focused this analysis within the geographic area of Jefferson County, KY.
This week, Director of Government Relations Laura Uttley, Senior Scientist Dr. Sue Natali, and Senior Scientist Dr. Brendan Rogers were appointed to Woodwell Climate’s three endowed chairship positions to honor their leadership in the field of climate research and policy.
These appointments are professional distinctions that honor the living legacy of Sally Shallenberger Brown, Dr. George Woodwell, and Dr. Richard “Skee” Houghton, whose vision and leadership continue to guide work at the Center. The endowed funds provide salary support for a renewable three-year term, annual stipends, and recognition of the appointee’s leadership.
“I’m thrilled to announce the appointment of these remarkable experts to Woodwell’s three endowed chairs,” said Woodwell Climate President and CEO Dr. Max Holmes, who led the selection committee along with Drs. John Holdren and Jennifer Francis. “This public recognition of their extraordinary contributions, along with the support provided by the endowments, will unlock exciting opportunities to advance climate solutions.”
The Sara Shallenberger Brown Chair of Environmental Policy
Laura Uttley, Director of Government Relations
Sara Shallenberger Brown was an influential environmentalist and philanthropist who served on the boards of many environmental and conservation nonprofits throughout her lifetime, including Woodwell Climate (then Woods Hole Research Center).
The Brown chairship recognizes Uttley’s fifteen years of experience bridging science and policy in Washington, D.C. She has developed federal advocacy strategies and facilitated outreach to policymakers, ensuring that Woodwell Climate’s leading research influences policy development and implementation. Prior to joining Woodwell, Uttley worked at Lewis-Burke Associates and served in the offices of Congressman James Langevin, Senator Jack Reed, and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. She is also a Truman National Security Project Political Partner and teaches advocacy at American University. Her expertise and leadership embody the Brown Chair’s mission of connecting science with conservation and policy at the highest levels.
The George M. Woodwell Chair in Conservation
Dr. Sue Natali, Senior Scientist
George Woodwell was not only the founder of the Center, but a pioneer and visionary whose scientific inquiries hit on the biggest environmental issues of the late twentieth century, including DDT, nuclear radiation, and “the carbon dioxide problem.”
Natali is a leading Arctic climate scientist whose pioneering research on permafrost thaw has deepened our understanding of the immense risks it poses. She directs the Permafrost Pathways initiative, funded through the TED Audacious Project, which brings together scientists, policymakers, and Indigenous communities to inform equitable adaptation and mitigation strategies. Natali’s commitment to collaboration, her extensive fieldwork across the Arctic, and her global engagement exemplify the legacy of George Woodwell, our founder, whose vision was to unite science and conservation for lasting impact.
The Richard “Skee” Houghton Chair in Carbon Cycle Science
Dr. Brendan Rogers, Senior Scientist
Since becoming one of the Center’s first employees, Skee Hougton has shaped the organization as its Acting Director & President, and his research field, notably contributing to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
Rogers’ research focuses on boreal forests and Arctic tundra, with particular emphasis on wildfire, permafrost thaw, and their consequences for the global carbon cycle. He integrates field measurements, satellite observations, and modeling to understand rapidly changing northern ecosystems and to inform resource management and policy. As co-lead of Permafrost Pathways, Rogers has emerged as a global leader in translating science into action, embodying the tenacity, rigor, and collaborative spirit that defined Dr. Houghton’s career.