this thread!
Posts by Timon McPhearson
"there is only one majority in this country and that is the working class."
More tragedy for ecological science
y'all.
Hey all, it's so fun to be able to share the summary of all the work we got up to last year. It's been 10yrs since I started the Urban Systems Lab and this last year is a testament to the amazing people who call the Lab home. Enjoy!
If you want to help nature and climate in your region, or have science knowledge to contribute, see our draft report at naturerecord.org A bit of background here: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/c...
Thanks! we are really excited to put this report out, including a chapter focused entirely on the bright spots, where we are seeing success working with and for nature! It's the Public Comment period so please add your voice naturerecord.org
One scientist talking to two others. "These days. If you're not a mad scientist, you're not paying attention."
Me. I'm a mad scientist.
(Paul Noth cartoons)
Conveniently forgotten.
@ipcc.bsky.social AR6 SPM C.3 :
"Hard limits to adaptation have been reached in some ecosystems (high confidence). With increasing global warming, losses and damages will increase and additional human and natural systems will reach adaptation limits (high confidence)."
Biodiversity isn’t only protected in parks and policy documents, it is defended on the ground by communities and social movements, often at great personal risk.
Study by ICTA-UAB & IBEI shows that 40% of socio-environmental mobilizations take place in the world’s most important biodiversity areas
This line graph illustrates the percentage change in agency staff levels from the previous year for nine major U.S. federal scientific and health organizations between the fiscal years 2016 and 2025. The agencies tracked include the CDC, Department of Energy, EPA, FDA, NASA, NIH, NIST, NOAA, and NSF. For the majority of the timeline between 2016 and 2023, the agencies show relatively stable fluctuations, generally staying within a range of +5% to -5% change per year. However, there is a dramatic and uniform plummet starting in the 2024–25 period. Every agency depicted shows a sharp downward trajectory, with staffing losses ranging from approximately -15% to over -25%. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows the most significant decline, dropping to roughly -26%, while the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows the least severe but still substantial drop at approximately -15%.
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
In good news, your advocacy for science funding is paying off! Congress has just rejected the massive cuts to NASA's 2026 budget.
(Sadly, they didn't include a provision for saving @ncar-ucar.bsky.social but we use this win to keep fighting!)
ICYMI: an international team has developed a new framework for understanding sustainable development. Instead of separating nature, society and economy, David Obura and co. propose a model that positions nature as the foundation.
People will get sicker. More people will have heart attacks and lung disease and other health challenges because of pollution. People’s lives will get worse, and shorter. People you know. Maybe me. Maybe you.
Trees might be doing more for air quality than we thought #EarthDotCom #EarthSnap #Earth
It appears there is no withdraw process for @ipcc.bsky.social, participation in which is voluntary, free and open to all UN and WMO members. So the Trump administration’s supposed withdraw means less than their June firing of all the staff of the State Dept’s Office of Global Change
A map of the US with each 2025 billion-plus dollar weather and climate disaster geo-located on it. Source: Climate Central
After the US admin cancelled the $B Climate + Weather Disaster dataset, @climatecentral.org hired the scientists who ran it and set it back up.
Now the 2025 numbers are in: it's 3rd highest year on record and highest year w/o land-falling hurricanes.
More: www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv...
"Because the U.S. entered the UNFCCC with advice and consent of the Senate in 1992, it’s our legal view that it also must be exited using the same process in reciprocation... Letting this lawless move stand could shut the U.S. out of climate diplomacy forever"
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Or just AI.
“The changes permit as few as one outside review rather than the current minimum of three, end the routine use of expert panels to discuss those individual reviews, and give program managers greater authority to recommend which proposals should or should not be funded.”
It’s simply not possible to overstate how important NCAR is to US and world science. We need to fight this with everything we’ve got.
You thought the pictures from last night were incredible? Look at this!
thoughts and prayers to everyone in Jamaica today. stay safe!
Talking Nature Positive Cities and preview of our launch for the NATURA Global Roadmap for Urban Nature-based Solutions tomorrow at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. Join us if you are in-person or registered online. Exciting work ahead! iucncongress2025.org/programme/na...
"By most metrics, 2025 has been the worst year for the American scientific enterprise in modern history". The result - we are "essentially ending America’s longstanding role as the world leader in science and innovation,” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/s...
just nuts!
Jane Goodall was an inspiration to anyone who wants to see good happen on this planet. Advocating to the very end, she spoke to us as a Planetary Guardian at NYC Climate Week just last week! An irreplaceable voice helping show the value of all nature.We miss you Jane www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o...
Redefine how the world measures progress!
🌍🧑🌾🌽🌎🌴🐬🌏🚵♀️🍄🌐👍
Join the Global Expert Consultation to develop
The Nature Relationship Index (NRI) @undp.org
<15 mins to make a difference
anu.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
> Deadline: Oct 15, 2025
> Background: rdcu.be/etpiQ
me too! there is hope in New York City!