Climate science for change.

Woodwell Climate Research Center conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just, meaningful impact to address the climate crisis. For over 35 years, we have combined hands-on experience and policy impact to identify and support societal-scale solutions that can be put into immediate action.

FINDING SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

Our unique approach

Identifying needs

Our research agenda is defined by interdisciplinary groups of researchers and stakeholders who prioritize topics that are actionable and impactful.

Conducting research

We create breakthrough understanding of the natural systems that have an outsized influence on global climate.

Sharing knowledge

We synthesize insights from numerous areas of research to create powerful visualizations and stories of climate change.

Compelling action

We work to inform every level of decision making and support solutions that can slow or reverse the effects of climate change.

Research
Impact

Focusing on Earth’s most consequential systems.

Climate change is the single greatest challenge of our lifetime, affecting every aspect of life on our planet. Combating this crisis requires science-based solutions that are both comprehensive in scope and societal in scale.

Woodwell Climate researchers work in the world’s most consequential ecosystems—those that play an outsized role in maintaining and sustaining the Earth’s climate, and which stand to be most impacted as the climate is disrupted.

Left: Deputy Director Dr. Max Holmes on the Kwethluk River.

Right: Photo courtesy of Alexander Nassikas

Founded as Woods Hole Research Center, Woodwell Climate Research Center has focused on climate change since it first emerged in public policy discourse in 1985. Today, we work around the globe, from the Arctic to the Tropics, conducting world-class research to understand how changing conditions, land use, and other forms of disruption affect the Water and Carbon cycles in local ecosystems and the larger world.

We work with partners and leaders in more than 20 countries to connect science to daily life and create real-world impact through policy briefs, Risk assessments, expert testimony, and more. We are also deeply involved in educating and activating community members and community scientists in the fight against climate change.

Helping turn climate science into climate policy.

Woodwell Climate Research Center is named in honor of our founder, the renowned ecologist Dr. George Woodwell, who wanted to take the insights of science beyond the walls of academia to focus on initiatives that can be implemented at the largest possible scale to impact society as a whole.

We helped launch the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and have contributed to every annual assessment report that has followed. In 2019, our partnership with Wellington Management and the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) resulted in the first-ever guidelines for corporate disclosure of physical climate risk.

Dr. Paulo Brando testifies before Brazilian Congress.

Left: Agriculture has dramatically altered landscapes in the Amazon.

Photo courtesy of Paulo Brando

Right: Dr. Paulo Brando testifies to Brazilian Congress about historic fires of 2019.

Woodwell researchers are at their best translating hard science into easy-to-understand facts, figures, and visualizations that put climate change into everyday terms:

We create stunning maps that bring massive climate science datasets into stark relief.
We craft powerful policy briefs to help inform decision makers and guide legislation.
We produce tailored risk assessments free of charge for under-resourced municipalities.

Most of all, we act as an unwavering voice for climate science, providing expert testimony and insight wherever it’s needed most.

Learn more about our impact

SUPPORT OUR RESEARCH. COMBAT THE CRISIS.

Give Today

Our Work