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Key Climate Change Sources & Experts |
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Leading International Bodies | Leading U.S. Agencies | Select U.S. Regional, State & City Agencies & Initiatives | Select Environmental Groups | Select Academic Research Centers & Think Tanks |
Leading International Bodies
United Nations | Climate
The 193-member state organization conducts its climate work primarily through various agencies (see below) and via legal instruments including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, as well as its sustainable development goals.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The IPCC is the United Nations body charged with assessing the science related to climate change. It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. Its reports, including its Sixth Assessment Report, are essential working documents in the climate field.
United Nations Environment Programme | Climate Change
Within the United Nations, UNEP sets the global environmental agenda and promotes the implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system. Among its climate change resources are a 2023 emissions gap report, a 2023 adaptation gap report and a 2023 production gap report. It also has a sectoral solutions interactive, a roadmap for reaching the 1.5C goal with six key sectors (energy, industry, agriculture and food, forests and land use, and transport).
World Meteorological Organization | Climate
A specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate) and more, WMO helps its member nations monitor the Earth’s climate on a global scale to help adapt to a changing climate and manage risks. It provides extensive climate monitoring information, including annual reports, seasonal climate updates and regional outlooks.
World Health Organization | Climate Change
The intergovernmental health organization supports countries in building climate-resilient health systems and tracking national progress in protecting health from climate change, including assessing the health gains that would result from the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
International Union for Conservation of Nature | Climate Change
The IUCN, an international organization focused on nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, focuses on climate change by assessing the risks that climate change poses to biodiversity and advancing nature-based solutions. It also has a series of quick reads aimed at policy-makers and journalists.
C40 Cities
A network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change. Regional networks focus on adaptation; implementation; air quality; energy and buildings; food, waste and water; transportation; and urban planning.
Leading U.S. Agencies
U.S. Global Change Research Program
The USGCRP is a federal program coordinating federal research in collaboration with 13 federal member agencies, serving as a gateway to science, tools and resources to help manage risks and respond to changing environmental conditions. USGCRP also has a legal mandate to conduct a state-of-the-science synthesis of climate impacts and trends across U.S. regions and sectors every four years, known as the National Climate Assessment. The fifth, and most recent, assessment was released in 2023.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Climate.Gov
The climate site for NOAA, a scientific agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways and the atmosphere, provides scientific data and information, including news and features for the public, maps and data for officials and professionals, and learning materials for educators, as well as a Climate Resilience Toolkit for policy and decision-makers.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Climate Change
The EPA climate change website reflects the agency's focus on understanding and addressing climate change as part of its mission to protect human health and the environment, including information and features on tracking and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing emissions to combat climate change.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Climate Change
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, America’s civil space program and the global leader in space exploration, includes in its mission the study of the Earth's climate. Its climate change site includes current news and data streams about global warming and climate change.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Climate and Health
The United States' health protection agency, the CDC’s Climate and Health Program supports city, state, tribal, local and territorial public health agencies to prepare for health impacts of a changing climate.
U.S. Geological Survey | Climate
The science agency for the Department of the Interior, resources include climate adaptation science centers, and a climate research and development program.
U.S. Agency for International Development | Global Climate Change
USAID, which leads the U.S. government's international development and disaster assistance, reaches more than 50 countries with weather, climate and sustainable landscapes knowledge, data and tools, to help with their climate and development priorities.
Select U.S. Regional, State & City Agencies & Initiatives
United States Climate Alliance
A bipartisan coalition of 25 governors committed to securing America’s net-zero future by advancing state-led, high-impact climate action. Here are its priorities.
Climate Mayors
A bipartisan network of more than 750 U.S. mayors representing 48 states and nearly 60 million Americans, focused on climate actions in their communities.
Transportation and Climate Initiative
A regional collaboration of 13 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia focused on improved transportation, the clean energy economy and reduced carbon emissions from the transportation sector. More on its projects here.
Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast
A NOAA regional integrated sciences and assessments project focused on water, coasts, health and climate change, and how they connect with climate science, engineering and urban design, and social dimensions of adaptation.
Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program
Another NOAA regional integrated sciences and assessments project for the South Central United States, focused on climate hazards through research program whose mission is to help communities build resilience to weather and climate extremes.
Covering Your Climate: Resource Toolbox for Climate Change Reporting in the South
A wide array of government, academic and NGO links for the Southern United States to help reporters track down climate stories throughout the region.
Covering Your Climate: Resource Toolbox for Climate Change Reporting in the Pacific Northwest
A range of government, academic and NGO resources to help reporters track down climate stories throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Select Environmental Groups
350.org
Grassroots advocacy organization founded with author Bill McKibben. Resources for training, storytelling, videos and more.
Sunrise Movement
A coalition of young advocates focused on stopping climate change. Resources on a "green new deal" and other priorities.
Climate Action Network
A worldwide network of over 1,900 NGOs in more than 130 countries focused on limiting human-induced climate change.
Union of Concerned Scientists | Climate
A national nonprofit organization with nearly 250 scientists, analysts, policy and communication experts who use "rigorous, independent science" to address climate change and other problems. Resources on climate impacts, climate science, disinformation and solutions.
Natural Resources Defense Council | Climate
An environmental advocacy organization founded by a group of law students and attorneys, NRDC advocates for a broad range of legal, policy and technology tools to combat climate change pollution and work toward deep cuts to carbon pollution.
Environmental Defense Fund | Climate
An environmental advocacy organization that targets carbon pollution around the world. Offers a range of resources and experts.
World Wildlife Fund | Climate
A leading conservation organization, working in nearly 100 countries, WWF is focused on accelerating climate action by providing financial support to developing countries and helping them transition to clean energy sources; building a coalition of non-federal actors in the U.S. and working with companies and cities to switch to 100% renewable energy; and curbing climate pollution from international aviation.
The Nature Conservancy | Climate
A member-based international organization primarily focused on conservation, with climate initiatives including nature-based solutions, clean energy and helping vulnerable communities adapt.
Earthjustice | Climate
A public interest environmental law organization whose Zero to 100 initiative is focused on ending the use of fossil fuels and bringing about a transition to zero carbon emissions and 100% clean energy.
Sierra Club | Climate & Energy
Grassroots environmental organization whose climate initiatives include Ready For 100 on the transition to clean energy sources, clean transportation, Beyond Coal, Fighting Oil and Gas, and Climate Parents.
Greenpeace | Climate
International environmental advocacy organization with a climate leadership campaign, research and reports.
League of Conservation Voters | Climate
Environmental advocacy organization that seeks to influence policy, hold leaders accountable and win elections, and which has identified climate change as its top priority, including through volunteer climate action field programs.
Friends of the Earth | Climate
Environmental NGO whose series of climate and energy projects include climate finance and ending fossil fuel subsidies.
Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
A global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous people's organizations focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and on forest carbon stock conservation.
Land Trust Alliance | Climate Change
A resource for land trusts and other organizations that are doing land conservation planning in the United States, with a focus on resilience, natural climate solutions and renewables. Case studies highlight adaptation, carbon finance and mitigation. Programs focus on land and climate and on carbon offsets.
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition | Climate Change and Agriculture
An alliance of grassroots organizations that through its Climate Change Campaign advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources and rural communities. Also working to develop a legislative agenda on climate change and agriculture.
Select Academic Research Centers & Think Tanks
National Academies | Climate Resources
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide advice from top experts to help the nation better understand, prepare for and limit future climate change. Resources include reports, videos and interactive material.
USGS National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers
A federal network of regional centers based out of host universities to work with natural and cultural resource managers in gathering scientific information and building the tools needed to help fish, wildlife and ecosystems adapt to the impacts of climate change. Also see annual reports from the centers and the network.
Columbia Climate School
Blends research in the physical and social sciences, education and practical solutions to help guide the world onto a path toward sustainability. The school encompasses the Earth Institute, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and more than 20 other centers and programs, supporting a continuum of research, from basic discovery to societal solutions.
Resources for the Future
An independent, nonprofit research institution in Washington, D.C., focused on the fields of environmental and resource economics, with more than a dozen projects dedicated to carbon pricing, oil and gas, the social cost of carbon and more.
Georgetown Climate Center
A resource on state and federal policy, the center works on U.S. climate and energy policies and serves as a resource to state and local communities that are working to cut carbon pollution and prepare for climate change. Resources include an adaptation clearinghouse.
Woodwell Climate Research Center
Scientists at the center, founded as Woods Hole Research Center, scientists combine fieldwork, satellite data and computer simulations to examine the land-climate connection. Projects include the arctic, carbon, risk, the tropics and water cycles.
World Resources Institute | Climate
A natural resources-focused global research organization that sees its role on climate change to help businesses, policymakers and civil society address deep structural shifts. It focuses on four main areas: stepping up national climate action, advancing international climate action, tracking progress toward climate goals and supporting equity and development goals in the transition to a zero-carbon economy.
Stockholm Environment Institute | Climate
An international nonprofit research and policy organization that tackles environment and development challenges, with climate initiatives on adaptation, policy, services, disaster risk, finance and more.
TERI — The Energy and Resources Institute | Climate
India-based organization focused on research, policy, consultancy and implementation, with projects to design climate models for India and to build resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change.
Stanford Woods Institute | Climate
Stanford University's hub of interdisciplinary environment and sustainability research.
