Standing up for climate science

A message from President & CEO Dr. R. Max Holmes

Over the past several months, I have repeatedly called out the disparity between the direction of the U.S. federal government on climate science and policy, and the progress we here at Woodwell Climate see in our work each day. Last week—Climate Week NYC—highlighted that dichotomy dramatically.

I was in New York with several of our experts, and it was a whirlwind of important events and conversations. We brought together partners and colleagues for workshops on addressing rapid Arctic change and advancing tropical regenerative agriculture. We participated in the launch of the VCM+ Coalition, a global initiative aimed at restoring trust in carbon markets and improving outcomes for communities and nature. And we participated in multiple events building momentum around the Tropical Forests Forever Facility—an innovative finance mechanism to support tropical forest conservation—including a session of the UN Environmental Program at which President Lula da Silva pledged $1B to kickstart the initiative.

In the midst of this, President Trump addressed the UN General Assembly and called climate change a hoax, a green scam, and “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” This administration is trying to rewrite the scientific record to fit that narrative—gutting federal climate research, taking down websites with climate information, canceling the Fifth National Climate Assessment, then commissioning a report full of thoroughly debunked misinterpretations of climate science and using that as the basis to roll back critical greenhouse gas regulations. It has even been reported that Department of Energy employees have been asked not to use the words “climate change.”

As an organization committed to the highest standards of scientific excellence and dedicated to the idea that public policy should be informed by rigorous science, we object. “Climate” is in our name for a reason. We will not stop talking about climate change, and we will stand up and speak out for climate science. That’s why we have submitted public comment voicing our strong opposition to EPA’s plan to rescind the Endangerment Finding and cease regulating greenhouse gases.

The Endangerment Finding—that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and should be regulated as air pollution under the Clean Air Act—was based on solid science when it was originally made in 2009. In 2018, then-president of Woodwell Climate, Dr. Phil Duffy, led a reassessment of the scientific underpinnings which concluded that “the amount, diversity, and sophistication of the evidence has increased markedly, clearly strengthening the case for endangerment.” Woodwell Climate’s ongoing risk assessments reinforce this on a daily basis.

Furthermore, while Woodwell Climate focuses primarily on nature-based climate solutions, our work is predicated on the understanding that burning of fossil fuels, including for transportation, is the single greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions and must be dramatically curtailed. As we stated in our public comment, to do otherwise “would abandon America’s responsibility to protect its citizens and abdicate our leadership in addressing the defining challenge of our time.”

There can be no doubt that we are facing immense challenges in advancing much-needed climate policy at the U.S. federal level. But we are resolute. We continue to push for science-based policy at every opportunity, whether that means supporting the efforts of ambitious partners or holding those opposed accountable. Our work is on behalf of all who want a better climate future, and we are grateful each and every day for those, including you, who make it possible.

Onward,