Managing Risks in a Multipolar Nuclear World

It is well-established that climate change is happening and is caused by humans. Further, it is clear that humanity is largely not doing the things we know we need to do to control the problem. Given that, why do we still need climate science? Our recent and ongoing experience with COVID-19 reminds us of the importance of addressing science-based problems using science-based policies. Climate science is needed to inform policies to limit the scale of climate change (mitigation), to manage its consequences (adaptation), and to assess compliance with national commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Duffy will show that critical questions, which have direct bearing on humanity's future, remain unanswered.

Philip B. Duffy is President and Executive Director of Woodwell Climate Research Center (formerly Woods Hole Research Center). Prior to joining Woodwell, Dr. Duffy served as a Senior Policy Analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and as a Senior Advisor in the White House National Science and Technology Council. In these roles he was involved in international climate negotiations, domestic and international climate policy, and coordination of US global change research. Before joining the White House, Dr. Duffy was Chief Scientist at Climate Central, an organization dedicated to increasing public understanding and awareness of climate change. Dr. Duffy has held senior research positions with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and visiting positions at the Carnegie Institution for Science and the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. He has a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Harvard in astrophysics and a PhD in applied physics from Stanford.