Pam McElwee
@pammcelwee.bsky.social
Prof of Human Ecology @Rutgers. Co-Chair, IPBES Nexus Assessment, Ecosystems chapter lead NCA5 & IPCC author. Kansas/Oxford/Yale Alum. She/her. Brunch-eater. Mom. Working at science-policy interface to find solutions to biodiversity + climate crises 🌎☀️🐢
Pinned
Pam McElwee
@pammcelwee.bsky.social
· Nov 5
In reading Bill Gates' recent #climate memo, I'm struck by how much he ignores huge body of research and action around integrated solutions - the whole reason we wrote the @ipbes.net Nexus Assessment on climate, biodiversity, water, food and health! So a few key facts & lessons from our report: 1/
#IPBES12 is underway with opening statements. Colombia for GRULAC begins with a tribute to a ‘founding member’ who has left—the US—and hopes they will be back soon. Got a little choked up at that - ❤️ - I too hope the US will be back soon.
February 3, 2026 at 11:46 AM
#IPBES12 is underway with opening statements. Colombia for GRULAC begins with a tribute to a ‘founding member’ who has left—the US—and hopes they will be back soon. Got a little choked up at that - ❤️ - I too hope the US will be back soon.
Great to be here in Manchester to focus on global biodiversity knowledge, especially given misguided US federal withdrawal from IPBES last month. US universities and institutions are still in! Happy to represent @Rutgers and network with other orgs on how we can support a biodiversity agenda
Stakeholders gather in Manchester, UK, ahead of the @ipbes.net Plenary to jointly reflect on their #biodiversity engagement and coordinate interventions to be delivered at the 12th Plenary session
February 2, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Great to be here in Manchester to focus on global biodiversity knowledge, especially given misguided US federal withdrawal from IPBES last month. US universities and institutions are still in! Happy to represent @Rutgers and network with other orgs on how we can support a biodiversity agenda
Reposted by Pam McElwee
The execution of Alex Pretti is playing so badly because you can look at his actions and life story - his last act was helping, boy scout, athlete, health care worker to veterans - and compare those to the men who killed him and know which you would want to be your son, brother, father, uncle.
January 26, 2026 at 4:18 PM
The execution of Alex Pretti is playing so badly because you can look at his actions and life story - his last act was helping, boy scout, athlete, health care worker to veterans - and compare those to the men who killed him and know which you would want to be your son, brother, father, uncle.
Amid all the horrors in MN right now, the fact that Alex Pretti was an interdisciplinary environmental studies graduate from UMN got to me. He was just like my students, who care deeply about both people and nature. Hoping for justice for his family.
Wrote myself a pep talk to get back to work tomorrow. It helped me. Hope it helps you.
I don't know how to do this
But I'm going to keep doing it anyway.
heated.world
January 26, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Amid all the horrors in MN right now, the fact that Alex Pretti was an interdisciplinary environmental studies graduate from UMN got to me. He was just like my students, who care deeply about both people and nature. Hoping for justice for his family.
Given all that's going on, here's another systemic risk out there: the collapse of food production due to biodiversity loss in key areas of the world. This UK security analysis get it - a key message of the @ipbes.net Nexus Assessment as well. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn
Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Given all that's going on, here's another systemic risk out there: the collapse of food production due to biodiversity loss in key areas of the world. This UK security analysis get it - a key message of the @ipbes.net Nexus Assessment as well. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Please sign letter @agu.org has organized in opposition to the withdrawal of the US from UNFCCC and other global #climate and environmental policy institutions 🧪
agu.quorum.us/campaign/152...
agu.quorum.us/campaign/152...
Sign on in opposition to the U.S. leaving the IPCC and other critical global climate and environment organizations and treaties
Join me in opposing the US leaving critical global science-based organizations
agu.quorum.us
January 23, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Please sign letter @agu.org has organized in opposition to the withdrawal of the US from UNFCCC and other global #climate and environmental policy institutions 🧪
agu.quorum.us/campaign/152...
agu.quorum.us/campaign/152...
At any rate it's infuriating that scientists who follow rules, processes and methods are dismissed, as the CWG did for the hundred of people who worked on NCA5. The NCA report was scrubbed from previous govt websites but you can still find it here! 10/10 repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/61...
NOAA Institutional Repository
The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NO...
repository.library.noaa.gov
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
At any rate it's infuriating that scientists who follow rules, processes and methods are dismissed, as the CWG did for the hundred of people who worked on NCA5. The NCA report was scrubbed from previous govt websites but you can still find it here! 10/10 repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/61...
CWG admitted as much in emails telling each other they didn't really look at health. Several DOE reviewers said they didn't have expertise in topics they were asked to review too! So blind leading the blind to a predetermined location. This is why we have formal assessment processes and methods! 9/
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
CWG admitted as much in emails telling each other they didn't really look at health. Several DOE reviewers said they didn't have expertise in topics they were asked to review too! So blind leading the blind to a predetermined location. This is why we have formal assessment processes and methods! 9/
A major point of EPA endangerment finding is that GHGs endanger human health. And yet the CWG had zero health experts and couldn't be bothered to look at the overwhelming evidence in that field! NCA5 had a whole chapter on human health written by eminent experts at CDC, NCAR, etc 8/
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
A major point of EPA endangerment finding is that GHGs endanger human health. And yet the CWG had zero health experts and couldn't be bothered to look at the overwhelming evidence in that field! NCA5 had a whole chapter on human health written by eminent experts at CDC, NCAR, etc 8/
NCA5 process took > 2 YEARS because of all meetings, reviews, responses, multiple drafts etc. The CWG had only a few weeks and were told what the end product needed to look like. Which even that they failed to do! CWG report said almost nothing about human health (nor about ecosystems btw) 7/
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
NCA5 process took > 2 YEARS because of all meetings, reviews, responses, multiple drafts etc. The CWG had only a few weeks and were told what the end product needed to look like. Which even that they failed to do! CWG report said almost nothing about human health (nor about ecosystems btw) 7/
The CWG group's emails note that they should get a formal review and several members plot about who would be 'sympathetic' - eg DOE not only cherry picking authors but cherry picking reviewers of those authors! They decided against NASEM as 'not objective' - that's the pot calling the kettle 🙄 6/
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
The CWG group's emails note that they should get a formal review and several members plot about who would be 'sympathetic' - eg DOE not only cherry picking authors but cherry picking reviewers of those authors! They decided against NASEM as 'not objective' - that's the pot calling the kettle 🙄 6/
NCA5 had external review editor assigned to our chapter team to make sure we responded to all these comments appropriately and the text reflected our changes - EVERY chapter had an external review editor! We also had public meetings where people could hear what we were doing. CWG had none of that 5/
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
NCA5 had external review editor assigned to our chapter team to make sure we responded to all these comments appropriately and the text reflected our changes - EVERY chapter had an external review editor! We also had public meetings where people could hear what we were doing. CWG had none of that 5/
We got several sets of public and agency review comments and a full review with detailed comments by a National Academy of Sciences (NASEM) consensus panel. EVERY comment had to be responded to. The CWG got internal DOE review comments but were told most would be ignored and not to edit too much! 4/
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
We got several sets of public and agency review comments and a full review with detailed comments by a National Academy of Sciences (NASEM) consensus panel. EVERY comment had to be responded to. The CWG got internal DOE review comments but were told most would be ignored and not to edit too much! 4/
Meetings all had to follow FACA guidance as to who could be there and what was public. It was a pain sometimes for those of us outside govt as to when we could speak with agency scientists! But it was meant to wall off any whiff of undue influence and ensure transparency in the process 3/
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Meetings all had to follow FACA guidance as to who could be there and what was public. It was a pain sometimes for those of us outside govt as to when we could speak with agency scientists! But it was meant to wall off any whiff of undue influence and ensure transparency in the process 3/
The CWG people clearly thought they were subbing for the National Climate Assessment (NCA) process. I led the Ecosystems chapter of NCA5. Not once did I ever meet or hear a political appointee ANYWHERE (Interior, Energy, EPA) having any input or thoughts about NCA content or process. 2/
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
The CWG people clearly thought they were subbing for the National Climate Assessment (NCA) process. I led the Ecosystems chapter of NCA5. Not once did I ever meet or hear a political appointee ANYWHERE (Interior, Energy, EPA) having any input or thoughts about NCA content or process. 2/
My colleague @bobkopp.net has a nice thread rundown of the many problems and illegal actions of the Dept of Energy Climate Working Group report based on the emails that came out yesterday from @envdefensefund.bsky.social lawsuit: www.edf.org/media/newly-... I would just add a few things re NCA5 1/
Newly Disclosed Records Show Trump Administration’s Unlawful Actions Related to Secretly Formed “Climate Working Group”
The records are part of more than 68,000 pages of records obtained by EDF and the Union of Concerned Scientists as as the result of a lawsuit.
www.edf.org
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 PM
My colleague @bobkopp.net has a nice thread rundown of the many problems and illegal actions of the Dept of Energy Climate Working Group report based on the emails that came out yesterday from @envdefensefund.bsky.social lawsuit: www.edf.org/media/newly-... I would just add a few things re NCA5 1/
In the meantime, the US has decided actual UN agencies and agreements that have helped govern the commons since WW2 are no longer worth being a part of 🙈
Trump’s Board of Peace logo is basically the UN logo, except dipped in gold and edited so the world only includes America.
January 22, 2026 at 3:44 PM
In the meantime, the US has decided actual UN agencies and agreements that have helped govern the commons since WW2 are no longer worth being a part of 🙈
Great to see this!!
January 21, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Great to see this!!
Then sent to prominent env website - never got any response. Finally submitted to Science mag as a letter - still under review. 🤷♀️ When our media outlets don't have interest in these issues, it's not fair to blame scientists for not engaging! 🧪 #scicomm 2/2
January 21, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Then sent to prominent env website - never got any response. Finally submitted to Science mag as a letter - still under review. 🤷♀️ When our media outlets don't have interest in these issues, it's not fair to blame scientists for not engaging! 🧪 #scicomm 2/2
"Why don't scientists engage more with public?" people always complain. But our outlets are slow and limited! Case in pt: I wrote editorial immediately after recent Trump admin withdrawal from global enviro science. Rejected from newspaper after waiting several days to hear so lost timeliness 1/2
January 21, 2026 at 12:46 PM
"Why don't scientists engage more with public?" people always complain. But our outlets are slow and limited! Case in pt: I wrote editorial immediately after recent Trump admin withdrawal from global enviro science. Rejected from newspaper after waiting several days to hear so lost timeliness 1/2
Reposted by Pam McElwee
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...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
January 20, 2026 at 10:53 PM
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...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
Reposted by Pam McElwee
Must-read reporting by @virginiagewin.bsky.social on how US federal actions are affecting science.
By pairing the scale of the damage with the very human, personal stories behind the numbers, she paints a powerful and comprehensive picture of just how thoroughly US science is being hollowed out.
By pairing the scale of the damage with the very human, personal stories behind the numbers, she paints a powerful and comprehensive picture of just how thoroughly US science is being hollowed out.
‘Shattered’: US scientists speak out about how Trump policies disrupted their careers
Researchers lay bare the human toll of lay-offs, funding cuts and attacks on science one year after the president’s return to the White House.
www.nature.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Must-read reporting by @virginiagewin.bsky.social on how US federal actions are affecting science.
By pairing the scale of the damage with the very human, personal stories behind the numbers, she paints a powerful and comprehensive picture of just how thoroughly US science is being hollowed out.
By pairing the scale of the damage with the very human, personal stories behind the numbers, she paints a powerful and comprehensive picture of just how thoroughly US science is being hollowed out.
In the meantime the US Nationally Determined Contribution (our main obligation under Paris) remains filed on the UNFCCC website: unfccc.int/sites/defaul...
Let's keep trying to meet these goals!
Let's keep trying to meet these goals!
unfccc.int
January 20, 2026 at 4:20 PM
In the meantime the US Nationally Determined Contribution (our main obligation under Paris) remains filed on the UNFCCC website: unfccc.int/sites/defaul...
Let's keep trying to meet these goals!
Let's keep trying to meet these goals!
Today marks the official departure of the US from the Paris Agreement. We have withdrawn before (under Trump 1) and we rejoined immediately under a new President. This time may be harder given intention of Trump 2 to withdraw from #UNFCCC as well. But I hope we will be back! 🗼❤️🇺🇸 #climatechange
January 20, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Today marks the official departure of the US from the Paris Agreement. We have withdrawn before (under Trump 1) and we rejoined immediately under a new President. This time may be harder given intention of Trump 2 to withdraw from #UNFCCC as well. But I hope we will be back! 🗼❤️🇺🇸 #climatechange
I'm glad Natl Endowment for Humanities is giving grants again, but a reminder that nearly all grants awarded Jan 2025 got cancelled by DOGE, including mine, & haven't been recovered yet despite federal judge ruling they should be reinstated. Still tied up in court #NEH www.neh.gov/sites/defaul...
www.neh.gov
January 20, 2026 at 1:05 PM
I'm glad Natl Endowment for Humanities is giving grants again, but a reminder that nearly all grants awarded Jan 2025 got cancelled by DOGE, including mine, & haven't been recovered yet despite federal judge ruling they should be reinstated. Still tied up in court #NEH www.neh.gov/sites/defaul...