Pushing climate policy forward on two fronts

In September, Woodwell staff, board members, and partners traveled to both Washington, D.C. and New York, NY in the span of one week to connect with policymakers. The massive Climate Week push kicked off Woodwell’s campaign to see natural systems—both the risks and the solutions they present—fully and fairly accounted for in climate policy.

photo by Sarah Ruiz

Wednesday, September 21: New York, NY

In the morning, Woodwell scientists Drs. Mike Coe, Glenn Bush, and Wayne Walker hosted an early breakfast with key stakeholders in town for New York Climate Week to discuss the challenges and opportunities of carbon markets—a complex and sometimes controversial natural climate solution.

photo by Eric Lee

By the evening, Dr. Sue Natali had joined Dr. Coe, Woodwell Chief of Communications Dr. Heather Goldstone, and other staff at the Explorers Club to host a hybrid event. Titled “Nature in our Climate Budgets,” it highlighted the climate connections between the tropics and the Arctic. The inextricable human element in rapid landscape change and the importance of supporting Indigenous leadership was a common theme. In both the Arctic and tropical regions, Indigenous communities are situated on the frontlines of climate-induced change.

“Humans are not separate from nature. We are nature. It’s critical, if we want to find solutions to climate change that are just and that are viable, that we have Indigenous people leading the charge and providing us with guidance.” — ARCTIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR DR. SUE NATALI

Tuesday, September 20: Washington, D.C.

Together with our partners at the Niskanen Center, Woodwell Climate scientists, staff, and board members participated in a “fly-in” on Capitol Hill. The team had 15 meetings with elected officials and congressional offices, focusing on opportunities to support natural climate solutions through the next Farm Bill.

photos by Eric Lee

“This fly-in highlights Woodwell’s commitment to impact. We’re meeting with congressional offices on both sides of the aisle to offer our expertise and ensure they have the tools they need to make climate-smart decisions. To affect change, it’s essential that our science gets into the hands of decision makers.” — CHIEF OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DAVID MCGLINCHEY

photo by Dave McGlinchey

Woodwell Arctic Program Director and Permafrost Pathways lead Dr. Sue Natali testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in a hearing on “Strengthening Science to Respond to a Rapidly Changing Arctic.” Dr. Natali highlighted the devastating impacts of rapid landscape change facing Northern communities and the global climate threat posed by greenhouse gas emissions from permafrost thaw. She called for increased federal research support to expand the scope and timeframe of research, improve interagency coordination and international collaboration, and support Alaska Native tribes to coproduce knowledge and lead climate change research.

“I came into this hearing thinking ‘ice, ice, ice, ice.’ I’ve read a lot of articles about a world with ice. And now I’m leaving thinking ‘permafrost, permafrost, permafrost.’” — CONGRESSWOMAN HALEY STEVENS