Dr. Natali named to esteemed council to advise U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on national adaptation science strategy

above: Dr. Sue Natali presents at Arctic Circle Assembly 2023. / photo courtesy of Arctic Circle/Flickr

Jessica Howard, Arctic Communications Specialist

Woodwell Climate’s Arctic Program Senior Scientist and Permafrost Pathways Lead Dr. Sue Natali was appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland as a member of the new federal Advisory Council for Climate Adaptation Science.

The Council was established by the U.S. Department of the Interior to advise Secretary Haaland on the operations of the Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) and to provide recommendations on national strategy, including:

1. Identifying key climate adaptation science priorities to advance the management of natural and cultural resources;

2. How to build capacity and effectively deliver scientific information and tools to support the natural and cultural resource management community and decision-makers in adapting to climate change; and

3. The integration of equity within the operations of the national and regional CASCs.

Dr. Natali is an Arctic scientist whose research examines the effects of climate change, including permafrost thaw and increasing wildfires, on northern ecosystems and the impact these changes have on Arctic communities and the global climate. She has worked extensively in remote regions of Alaska and Siberia, conducting research with Indigenous community partners and training the next generation of Arctic scientists.

As a scientist who is committed to seeing both the human and climate impacts of rapid Arctic change incorporated into public understanding and global policy, Dr. Natali has briefed federal lawmakers, testified before Congress, and presented her work at events associated with international climate negotiations. She frequently speaks with the media, has been quoted by the New York Times, Washington Post, The New Yorker, and BBC News, and has presented her work on the TED stage.

“Rapid Arctic warming is creating hazardous conditions in the north, and Arctic Indigenous Peoples—who have been the traditional stewards of the land and water since time immemorial—have been living with and adapting to these impacts for decades,” Dr. Natali said. “Permafrost Pathways aims to ensure policymakers understand the consequences of thawing permafrost and other climate hazards, and to support adaptation decision-making. I’m thrilled to see the establishment of this council and I feel honored to join such an impressive group of people advancing climate adaptation science.”

Read about the ongoing work of the new advisory council on the USGS Advisory Council for Climate Adaptation Science website: usgs.gov/programs/climateadaptation-science-centers/advisorycouncil-climate-adaptation-science

To stay connected to Permafrost Pathways and Dr. Natali’s work: permafrost.woodwellclimate.org