Craig McLean’s Post

The following is a summary of article: Dread and determination: how climate scientists are preparing for Trump 2.0 originally written by Alexandra Witze The article discusses how climate scientists are preparing for the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House, given his promise to reverse many climate policies if elected for a second term. Scientists are concerned about Trump’s plans to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement again, deregulate air pollution controls, and open public lands for fossil-fuel development. Many fear the loss of climate data, particularly from federal agencies like NOAA and the EPA, and some are already taking steps to protect this data, either by downloading it or finding ways to distribute it independently. In response, climate scientists are becoming more proactive. Some are rejuvenated by the challenge and are focused on improving public communication and activism. Researchers are also working on preserving essential environmental data, such as tools that map environmental threats to vulnerable communities. Others are bolstering their connections with local communities and strengthening collaborative efforts. The article also highlights efforts to prepare scientists for potential oppression and retaliation under a second Trump administration. Despite these challenges, some federal agencies, like NOAA, remain optimistic and plan to continue their work with communities, such as those in the Arctic, even under a possible change in leadership. Read the original article in full here [nature] published on 18/12/2024: https://lnkd.in/g-Yraw_7 #ClimateScience #Trump2024 #ClimateAction #ClimateData #EnvironmentalJustice #PreserveScience #ClimateChange #ScienceActivism #ClimatePolicy #ProtectOurPlanet #ClimateResearchers #DataPreservation #EPA #NOAA #ClimateCommunication #EnvironmentalEquity #ResistanceThroughScience #ClimateCrisis #ClimateVulnerability #AGU2024 #ProtectClimateResearch

U.S. climate scientists gird for a second Trump administration U.S. climate scientists brace for challenges under a potential second Trump administration, with fears of funding cuts, policy rollbacks, and political interference. Discover the ongoing struggles to protect climate research integrity. https://lnkd.in/dP-mZJPk #ClimateScience #ScientificIntegrity #GreenhouseGases #NOAA #NASAClimate #ClimatePolicy #ResearchFunding #EnvironmentalProtection #Project2025 #ClimateChange

Heather Leslie asked if I would write a reflection about my recent experience working with a group of scientists to organize and write the report that is the scientific backbone for climate decision making in Maine. Think National Climate Assessment or IPCC comprehensive report, but for Maine--and we only had eight months! It was a monumental lift, and in the end, we have a document that has all the technical information, but can also be scanned in five minutes for the need-to-know science. I ended up thinking about what I learned, and would have like to have known from the beginning of the process. In this reflection, I hope my insights can be useful to anyone working on a collaboration across fields, sectors, and topics to generate a synthetic report. I want to open the door and demystify the climate reporting process, and invite others into these important tasks.

Today we have "Pollution and Public Relations: Finding Precedents of Canadian Climate Denial in the Imperial Oil Archives" by Rosanna Cyr This the second post in a two part series on Climate Denialism in the Archives of Imperial Oil. The blog posts in this series originated in Dr. Anya Zilberstein’s History of the Climate Crisis seminar in the undergraduate History program at Concordia University https://lnkd.in/gBiMqqvp #climatechange #climatedenial #canadianhistory #environmentalhistory

Lost American History of Climate Change in the 1960s Judging by recent Supreme Court rulings, the world knew little about climate change half a century ago. <!-- ads --> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); <!-- ads --> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In 2007, when the court held that the Clean Air Act of 1970 gave the Environmental Protection Agency flexibility to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, former Justice John Paul Stevens wrote, “When Congress adopted these provisions, the study of climate change was in its infancy.” In a dissenting opinion in a 2022 case examining similar questions, Justice Elena Kagan argued that legislators in 1970, when Congress created the law, gave the EPA flexibility to move with the times and address problems (such as climate change) that could not have been foreseen. Back in the swinging ’60s, when bell-bottoms were groovy and lava lamps were all the rage, it wasn’t just the scientists who were pondering the mysteries of our planet’s climate. No, siree! Congress, the White House, and even Sports Illustrated (yes, you read that right) were in on the action. Picture it: a congressional hearing with a backdrop of psychedelic posters and maybe a lava lamp or two.  Naomi Oreskes  Background and Education: Born on November 25, 1958, Naomi Oreskes is an American historian of science. She attended Stuyvesant High School in New York and later pursued her Bachelor of Science in mining geology from the Royal School of Mines at Imperial College, University of London. Her academic journey continued at Stanford University, where she earned her PhD in the Graduate Special Program in Geological Research and History of Science.   Academic Career: Oreskes started her career in geology but soon expanded her interests to include the history and philosophy of science. Her early work focused on scientific methods, model validation, consensus, and dissent. She authored books that shed light on the often-misunderstood history of continental drift and plate tectonics.   Later, she shifted her focus to <a href="http://usa" title="climate change">climate change</a> science. She became a leading voice in studying the doubt-creation industry that opposes <a href="https://lnkd.in/g8eXejQ4">climate change</a> science. Notable Contributions: “Merchants of Doubt”: In 2010, Oreskes co-authored the influential book “Merchants of Doubt.” This work drew parallels between the <a href="https://lnkd.in/g4pNCHpq">climate change</a> debate and earlier public controversies, particularly the tobacco industry’s efforts to obscure the link between smoking and serious diseases. <a href="https://lnkd.in/gYMaWNUc">Climate Change</a> Disinformation: Oreskes has been a tireless advocate for

Lost American History of Climate Change in the 1960s Judging by recent Supreme Court rulings, the world knew little about climate change half a century ago. <!-- ads --> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); <!-- ads --> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In 2007, when the court held that the Clean Air Act of 1970 gave the Environmental Protection Agency flexibility to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, former Justice John Paul Stevens wrote, “When Congress adopted these provisions, the study of climate change was in its infancy.” In a dissenting opinion in a 2022 case examining similar questions, Justice Elena Kagan argued that legislators in 1970, when Congress created the law, gave the EPA flexibility to move with the times and address problems (such as climate change) that could not have been foreseen. Back in the swinging ’60s, when bell-bottoms were groovy and lava lamps were all the rage, it wasn’t just the scientists who were pondering the mysteries of our planet’s climate. No, siree! Congress, the White House, and even Sports Illustrated (yes, you read that right) were in on the action. Picture it: a congressional hearing with a backdrop of psychedelic posters and maybe a lava lamp or two.  Naomi Oreskes  Background and Education: Born on November 25, 1958, Naomi Oreskes is an American historian of science. She attended Stuyvesant High School in New York and later pursued her Bachelor of Science in mining geology from the Royal School of Mines at Imperial College, University of London. Her academic journey continued at Stanford University, where she earned her PhD in the Graduate Special Program in Geological Research and History of Science.   Academic Career: Oreskes started her career in geology but soon expanded her interests to include the history and philosophy of science. Her early work focused on scientific methods, model validation, consensus, and dissent. She authored books that shed light on the often-misunderstood history of continental drift and plate tectonics.   Later, she shifted her focus to <a href="http://usa" title="climate change">climate change</a> science. She became a leading voice in studying the doubt-creation industry that opposes <a href="https://lnkd.in/g8eXejQ4">climate change</a> science. Notable Contributions: “Merchants of Doubt”: In 2010, Oreskes co-authored the influential book “Merchants of Doubt.” This work drew parallels between the <a href="https://lnkd.in/g4pNCHpq">climate change</a> debate and earlier public controversies, particularly the tobacco industry’s efforts to obscure the link between smoking and serious diseases. <a href="https://lnkd.in/gYMaWNUc">Climate Change</a> Disinformation: Oreskes has been a tireless advocate for

What does successful knowledge brokering between climate scientists and government look like? Climate scientists offer findings, knowledge and expertise based on their research to influence and engage policy, while policymakers balance effective and actionable policy with scientific advice. Policymakers sometimes find it hard to determine the utility of research findings. Misunderstanding information can lead to erroneous conclusions and sometimes to disillusionment amongst parties or even fractured relationships. Policy outcomes suffer as a result. In her new article, Angela Kaplish, knowledge broker at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, shares a practitioner guide for knowledge brokering to help bridge the climate scientist-policymaker gap. Kaplish said: "In my role as Lead Knowledge Broker for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, and with prior experience as a federal public servant, I work with academics to share their knowledge with a wider audience – primarily government – to facilitate communication and achieve improved outcomes for all." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gNBNf8_7 James Martin Institute for Public Policy #knowledgebroker #climatescience #policy https://lnkd.in/gNBNf8_7

In order to mobilize Cornell to support ambitious climate action in this decisive decade, Cornell Atkinson and The 2030 Project issue special requests for proposals for fast grant research-to-impact seed funding. We enable faculty to seize urgent and unique opportunities to provide support for impact-oriented climate research. Investigator Maha Haji is partnering with colleagues at Oregon State University to improve conversion of wave energy into power production. Learn more about 2024 Fast Grant awards here: https://lnkd.in/eDJBdEAv

If you're reading this you will probably be aware the window of opportunity to secure a liveable is rapidly closing, yet most countries are not on track to reduce their emissions. Why is this? Powerful political and economic actors such as lobby groups and corporations are preventing action and attempting to undercut public trust in climate science. This important study has shown that whilst climate scientist have a high level of trust, actions to undermine public trust in climate science maybe undermining the effectiveness of climate science communication to the public "Our narrative review shows that a large share of national publics perceive climate scientists and climate science as trustworthy. However, distrust in climate science can be politically consequential and should be taken seriously, even if exhibited by only a minority of the public." Most of the public still cannot name a climate scientist! We need to remedy that, and make our climate scientists a key part of the discourse. Time for us to make more breakthrough climate science content ❗ #climate #climatescience #trustedmessengers https://lnkd.in/eAyHYigw

We are happy to share the publication of James R. May and Ira Feldman, “Climate Displacement, Managed Retreat, and Constitutional Revolution,” 42 Natural Res. Envt. 1 (American Bar Association, Summer 2024), attached and available at: https://lnkd.in/geuEXgqA Professor May explains, "This timely analysis examines how U.S. constitutional law informs and influences government programs and policies addressing the displacement of millions due to climate change. It asks, with the “new normal” of climate change, will a reinterpretation of certain constitutional provisions be necessary? Specifically, we consider existing congressional authority to develop regulatory programs to manage internal climate displacement in the U.S. and identify constitutional concerns regarding the coordinated management of climate-displaced populations. We suggest that certain constitutional protections can facilitate the development of a national-level strategy for managed retreat and receiving communities, but other provisions may obstruct federal efforts. Where constitutional constraints exist, adjustments may be needed, including a “constitutional revolution.”"