AGU Updates Critical Position Statements on Climate, Communications and Data

We are pleased to announce the approval of three updated position statements that will help shape the future of climate action, science communication and data sharing.

AGU position statements—created, revised and approved by members with feedback and support from experts in related fields—are what enable AGU to take adaptive stances on significant policy issues ranging from climate change to national security. These statements, which are updated in a recurring four-year process, are cited by AGU as well as journalists, policymakers and other science organizations. Members can propose new position statements via this form.

Here are the three newly approved statements:

(1) Society Must Undertake Transformative Action Now to Mitigate and Adapt to the Climate Crisis. This statement calls for transformative collective actions to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of human-caused climate change. It outlines the challenges posed by the climate crisis, the projections for natural systems and the consequences for humanity. It also emphasizes the need for equitable distribution of accountability and just interventions.

(2) Science Communication Needs to be Inclusive and Intentional. This statement emphasizes the role of the scientific community in promoting open and accessible communication, underscoring the significance of inclusive and intentional science communication. It stresses the need for meaningful dialogue, diversity of perspectives and adequate support for science communication efforts.

(3) Preserving Open Data as a World Heritage to Secure Our Future. This statement underscores the critical importance of data accessibility, transparency and reproducibility in tackling urgent global challenges such as sustainability and climate change. It advocates for equitable access to data, changes in research culture to prioritize data contributions and the adoption of metadata standards.  

These finalized statements reflect AGU’s unwavering commitment to addressing the most pressing issues facing the scientific community and society.

AGU extends its deepest gratitude to all members and partners who dedicated their time and expertise to shaping these critical position statements. Your contributions were instrumental in ensuring that AGU’s advocacy reflects the collective voice and values of our community.

AGU Position Statement Committee 2022-2023:
Denise Hills (Chair), Alabama State Geological Survey 
Soumaya Belmecheri, University of Arizona 
Ian Bollinger, University of California Berkeley 
Matthew Druckenmiller, National Snow and Ice Data Center 
Jack Fellows, Oak Ridge National Laboratory 
Katie Reeves, ICF 

AGU Position Statement Committee 2024-2025:
Soumaya Belmecheri (Chair), University of Arizona
Bennett Bearden, Geological Survey of Alabama
Carlos Nobre, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Ingvild Ombustveldt, IOM Law
Kasey White, Niskanen Center

Society Must Address the Growing Climate Crisis Now – Writing Panel Members:
Cristin Dorgelo (Chair)
Bart Croes, CIRES, UC Boulder
Gabe Fillipelli, Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute
Tara Hudiburg University of Idaho
Anna Stewart Ibarra, Inter-American Institute 
James Rattling Leaf, North Central CASC/UC Boulder
Elizabeth Marino, Oregon State University
Arsum Pathak, National Wildlife Federation
Adam Sobel, Columbia University
Olga Wilhelmi, NCAR

Science Communication Needs to be Inclusive and Intentional – Writing Panel Members:
Kristin Timm (Chair), Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center at the University of Alaska
John Besley, Michigan State University 
Tom Di Liberto, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Ines Sanchez-Rodriguez, University of Saskatchewan 
Evelyn Valdez-Ward, University of Rhode Island 

Safeguarding Data to Address Global Challenges for Our Future – Writing Panel Members:
Kirsten Elger (Co-chair), GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Danny Kingsley (Co-chair), Scholarly Communication Consultant; Charles Sturt University
Beth Inadomi, Meridian122º, LLC
Yuhan (Douglas) Rao, North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies
Natalie Raia, University of Minnesota
Esther Rolf, Harvard; CU Boulder
Doug Schuster, NCAR
Susan Shingledecker, Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP)
Kasey White, Niskanen Center