MONTHLY NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2019
Woods Hole Research Center After Trump’s Paris abdication, a redoubled push for science-based climate action Dr. Philip B. Duffy President & Executive Director Early this month, the Trump Administration announced that it is moving forward with plans to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement.
The planned U.S. withdrawal from the Paris agreement is not just bad policy; it is a deliberate poke in the eye to young people and future generations, to those who are struggling to recover from climate-change-fueled disasters, to other nations and groups who remain committed to climate action, to anyone who believes in evidence-based policies, and to all of us working for a more secure future. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo initiated the withdrawal process on the first day that it was allowed under United Nations rules, as if each day continued participation did measurable harm to U.S. interests. This of course is exactly backwards, but in any case Trump & Co. have already largely eliminated U.S. climate policies, so our continued participation in Paris would be largely if not entirely symbolic. If further evidence is needed that this is a political gesture, Trump has two options short of withdrawal if he feels that the U.S. commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris agreement is too onerous (he has described it as “unfair”). First, he can simply not live up to the U.S. commitment, which in fact he has already been doing a great job at. Second, he can unilaterally change the U.S. commitment—no negotiation is needed to do this. This is allowed because the original drafters of the agreement hoped that nations would make their commitments more ambitious over time, but those commitments can also be revised downwards. In short, the Paris agreement is entirely voluntary, so it can’t be necessary to withdraw from it. It is interesting that in his withdrawal announcement Pompeo refers to the United States as “a world leader in reducing all
emissions.” This suggests that the administration considers reducing emissions to be a laudable goal. Their policies say otherwise, and not surprisingly U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rose significantly in 2018, the first full year of the Trump administration, after a 10-year declining trend. In an ironic coincidence, on the same day as Pompeo’s announcement, WHRC’s chair Bill Moomaw and four other leading scientists published a “Warning of a Climate Emergency.” This was signed by over 11,000 scientists, including me and several others from WHRC. The clarity and force of this declaration distinguish it from previous scientific synthesis exercises, whose impact is blunted by a superabundance of qualifying language. The Warning also is explicitly policy-prescriptive, which scientific syntheses usually aren’t. The U.S. withdrawal from Paris is much more than a failure of leadership; it is willful ignorance. The United States should be leading the global effort to address humanity’s greatest challenge. Instead we refuse to recognize the threat. A year from now the U.S. will be the only nation on earth not part of a global effort to address the issue that, more than any other, will shape our collective future.
To those of us who operate in reality, let’s take this as a challenge to redouble our efforts. If our socalled leaders won’t lead, or will push in the wrong direction, we have no choice but to do more. At the Woods Hole Research Center we are expanding our efforts to work with public and private sector partners to develop and implement science-based solutions. We are launching a new partnership to find new ways to communicate what climate change will mean for all of our lives. And we will continue to speak against folly, no matter what its source. Thanks as always for your interest and support.
WHRC is an independent research organization where scientists study climate change and how to solve it, from the Amazon to the Arctic. Learn more at www.whrc.org.
Trip to Brazilian Amazon explores river chemistry, climate connections by Miles Grant Last month, the Global Rivers Observatory completed its fourth expedition, this time to the Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon River in the heart of the Brazilian rain forest. The trip was led by Dr. Max Holmes, WHRC’s Deputy Director, and Dr. Bernhard Peucker-Ehrenbrink, Chair of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department. Water samples collected during the expedition will be returned to the Cape Cod for analysis. In addition to scientific field work and research presentations, participants visited with indigenous tribes, and got up-close views of magnificent wildlife including pink river dolphins, squirrel monkeys, and peacock bass.
The Global Rivers Observatory is a joint project of WHRC and WHOI. With partners from around the world, the Observatory investigates river chemistry in some of Earth’s most significant river systems. Now active in 16 watersheds around the world, the Observatory focuses on measuring the chemical composition of rivers near their mouths where they empty into the ocean. The 10-day trip was a chance for scientists to study the ecology and chemistry of rivers, for WHRC and Woods Hole Oceanographic supporters to see scientific work first-hand, and for all to participate in science discussions that will shape future research. The Observatory works to advance understanding of how climate change, deforestation, and other disturbances are impacting river chemistry and land-ocean linkages. This knowledge is vital for tracking the health of Earth’s watersheds and for predicting how Earth’s water and chemical cycles will change in the future. As the human population approaches nine billion people over the coming decades, this understanding will be essential as communities dependent on rivers struggle to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Learn more at GlobalRivers.org.
Kaneb Speaker Series brings WHRC research to cities across U.S. WHRC is pleased to announce the launch of the Kaneb Speaker Series: Climate Change at a Tipping Point. The events will further public understanding of global climate change, impacts, and potential solutions.
“Through the Kaneb Speaker Series, we’ll be able to bring the scientific expertise of Woods Hole Research Center and our partners to new audiences, discussing a range of topics including Arctic warming, threats to tropical forests, extreme weather, and economic risks,” said WHRC President Dr. Philip Duffy. “This is an exciting new venture for WHRC and we’re thankful for the Kaneb family’s support.” We are excited to announce an initial schedule for the Kaneb Speaker Series, below. Stay tuned, as new events and locations will be added throughout the year.
Amazon on Fire November 13, 2019 • The State Room, Boston Featuring WHRC scientists Dr. Michael Coe, and Dr. Marcia Macedo, as well as IPAMAmazonia Executive Director André Guimaraes. Hear from leading experts on the front lines of the Amazon fires and learn about why they are burning, how that impacts global climate change, and the audacious approach of WHRC and IPAMAmazonia to end deforestation in the Amazon and prevent future fires.
Rough Weather Ahead: Living and Adapting Through a Time of Rapid Change February 27, 2020 • Washington, DC Featuring WHRC scientist Dr. Jennifer Francis, and Niskanen Center Director of Climate Policy Dr. Joseph Majkut. How does a rapidly warming Arctic affect hurricanes that are hitting Florida, snowstorms in the northeast, and flooding and drought in the midwest? Learn about the connection between the climate crisis and extreme weather and what U.S. policymakers can do to better equip communities that are facing these threats. Science on the Fly April 1, 2020 • Fishpond USA, Denver, CO Featuring WHRC Deputy Director Dr. Robert Max Holmes and Research Assistant Anya Suslova, moderated by WHRC Board Member and Fishpond Founder and CEO John Le Coq. The chemistry of a river can help us understand what’s changing in the land around it. Learn about how WHRC scientists are enlisting the fly fishing community as “citizen scientists” to understand our rapidly changing climate and the impact on rivers around the world, including the Rockies.
The Big Thaw combines amazing Arctic images, cutting-edge climate science by Miles Grant WHRC scientists have teamed up with an award-winning science photographer to release The Big Thaw: Ancient Carbon, Modern Science, and a Race to Save the World. Featuring photographs from Chris Linder and the scientific work of Drs. Robert Max Holmes, Susan Natali and John Schade, The Big Thaw takes readers into the Siberian and Alaskan wilderness where climate scientists and students study thawing permafrost as part of WHRC’s Polaris Project.
“I photographed the Polaris science team as they followed the carbon—from the permafrost to the streams, lakes, rivers, and ultimately the Arctic Ocean—braving endless hordes of mosquitoes, quicksand, and extreme temperatures along the way. Science is more than numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s hard work, done by passionate people who care about the future. It’s my hope that by showing these behind-the-scenes details of climate change research, the public can better appreciate that hard-earned data,” Linder said. Permafrost is the carbon-rich frozen soil that covers 24 percent of Northern Hemisphere land area. Across the globe, from Alaska to Siberia, permafrost holds more carbon than has ever been released by humans. Right now, permafrost keeps carbon safely locked away, but as global temperatures warm, permafrost thaws and releases greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Carbon from thawing permafrost had been omitted from many models and reports that informed international climate policy.
“The Big Thaw highlights the critical need to better understand the impacts of thawing permafrost and the central role that young scientists play in moving our understanding forward and identifying solutions. We hope these amazing photos and this urgent science brings attention to the massive risks of the climate crisis, as well as the need to greatly reduce fossil fuel emissions in order to keep permafrost region carbon from entering into the atmosphere,” Dr. Natali said.
Dr. Natali and WHRC scientist Dr. Jennifer Watts recently released a study showing global warming may be shifting the permafrost region to a carbon source, as winter carbon emissions from thawing permafrost begins to put more carbon into the atmosphere than is taken up by plants each year. WHRC also recently launched the Arctic Carbon Monitoring and Prediction System, aiming to gain new understanding on how quickly permafrost regions are changing and what that means for global warming.
“There’s almost twice as much carbon locked in the permafrost than exists in the atmosphere today, so increasing thaw and rising emissions are rightly alarming. But our hope is that The Big Thaw’s breathtaking photos from the Arctic, along with the stories of these young scientists who are not afraid to ask questions and who approach research with creativity and resolve, act as a catalyst for change,” Dr. Holmes said. Dr. Natali will be signing copies of The Big Thaw at a book launch event at WHRC on November 21. It’s also available for purchase at WHRC.org/the-big-thaw.
WHRC scientists Dr. Sue Natali and Dr. Jennifer Watts (second from right and right) discussed the implications of their new study on winter Arctic carbon emissions with members of Congress at an October 21 event in Washington, DC hosted by Rep. Paul Tonko, Chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change. Their research, published in Nature Climate Change, warns winter Arctic carbon emissions may now be putting more carbon into the atmosphere than is taken up by plants each year, and that if human-caused greenhouse gas emissions continue on their current pace, winter carbon dioxide loss from the world’s permafrost regions could increase by 41%.
New ways to support WHRC and climate science The effects of climate change are growing ever more obvious, and science tells us we’re running short on time. Your dedication to climate science helps to ensure our planet will sustain future generations. To thank you for understanding the importance of our work, WHRC is excited to offer a new way to help you prepare for your future. We’ve recently partnered with planned giving experts FreeWill to give our supporters the ability to write a legally valid will. Everyone needs a will, and a will
is an excellent place to leave a legacy with the causes that matter to you most. Many friends of WHRC choose to create gifts in this way to advance our climate research into the next generation. As a special thank you to our supporters age 70.5 and older, FreeWill is also providing an easy way to make a tax-free donation from your IRA directly to WHRC. This online tool will help you calculate your yearly distribution from your IRA and decide how much you would like to give in support of advancing climate science and solutions. Both of these tools are free and you can get started right now at FreeWill.com/WHRC.
If you love to shop, consider supporting WHRC’s work and mission by shopping with Amazon Smile. Visit smile.amazon. com and select WHRC as your charitable organization of choice. The products and prices are identical, but Amazon donates 0.5% of the proceeds to WHRC when you use the Amazon Smile link. Gifts of all sizes are meaningful to the Center and deeply appreciated. With your support, the Center is able to forge ahead with an even stronger voice in support of science-based climate solutions. To contribute, visit WHRC.org/donate.
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More than 11,000 scientists from around the world declare a ‘climate emergency'. Washington Post quotes Bill Moomaw and Phil Duffy. November 5
Eat, Stomp, Poop: Could Better Ranching Help Save the Planet? Mother Jones quotes Jonathan Sanderman. November 2 Are We Missing an Environmental Opportunity in the Plan to Replace the Canal Bridges? WCAI quotes Chris Neill. October 30
The trouble with chocolate. Washington Post refers to our policy brief (by Skee Houghton and Ale Baccini) that tropical deforestation is currently responsible for about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. October 29
Climate Change is Turning Arctic's Carbon Sinks into Carbon Emitters. Newsweek quotes Sue Natali and Jennifer Watts. October 23
Pulitzer Center’s Climate Reporting Initiative Kicks Off With Boston Globe at Boston University. PulitzerCenter.org quotes Linda Deegan and features video of the panel. October 28 Boston Globe hosts climate change panel at Questrom. The Daily Press (Boston University student newspaper) quotes Linda Deegan. October 24 Unusual Dallas Tornado Signals New Resiliency Challenge. Environment + Energy Leader quotes Jennifer Francis. October 21