Confronting climate change through research, innovation, and action
The impacts of climate change are profoundly affecting people, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. Addressing climate change requires a comprehensive approach that combines scientific research, technological innovation, and practical, community-focused solutions.
AGU supports policies that:
- Prioritize continued investment in climate research to advance our understanding of climate systems and their widespread effects.
- Enhance climate adaptation and mitigation strategies that put communities first.
- Promote fair and transparent climate intervention research to explore responsible and innovative approaches for mitigating climate risks.
- Advance decarbonization efforts across all sectors.
Accelerating discovery, innovation, and practical solutions in the Earth and space sciences for a thriving society
The Earth and space sciences advance knowledge of the natural world and provide innovative solutions to pressing societal issues. Innovations and discoveries in these fields are essential for enabling society to overcome challenges and prosper.
AGU supports policies that:
- Increase sustained investments in Earth and space science research, workforce, and infrastructure to safeguard national security and create economic growth.
- Accelerate research and management of natural systems and resources, including fresh water, oceans, land, and space, with a focus on strengthening security, economic resilience, and public health.
- Advance our understanding of hazards—such as wildfires and flooding—and their interactions with human and ecological health, and improve preparedness, response, and recovery strategies.
- Strengthen communities’ access to information and resources they need to protect themselves from environmental harms.
Expanding the public’s connection to scientific research
For the scientific enterprise to reach its full potential to drive innovation and develop solutions to global challenges, all people must be able to contribute to and benefit from science. Policies that prioritize transparency, inclusiveness, and collaboration build public trust in science and ensure everyone benefits.
AGU supports policies that:
- Expand access and remove barriers to high-quality STEM education and career opportunities, allowing individuals from all backgrounds the chance to participate and succeed.
- Strengthen international scientific collaboration to address global challenges and advance shared scientific goals, while balancing research security concerns.
- Preserve the integrity of scientific research to ensure it remains free from ethical misconduct or political interference.
- Ensure that scientific data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR), and that scientific knowledge creation, evaluation, and communication are broadly available to society.
- Enhance science’s ability to address real-world problems through collaborative approaches, including connecting communities and scientists to advance local priorities, uniting varied disciplines and sectors to tackle challenges, and respectfully integrating Indigenous Knowledge.
- Bolster the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in the Earth and space sciences, promoting ethical applications in research and beyond.
Check Out More Policy Priorities
AGU began developing annual policy priorities to help focus our advocacy work and speed up the advancement of important science policy and legislation. Read some of our previous years priorities.