Standing up for science and climate action, now more than ever

A message from Project Drawdown and Executive Director Jonathan Foley, Ph.D. 

Dear Friends of Project Drawdown,

I’m writing to you today with a heavy heart – and a deeply reenergized commitment to our work on climate change.

Clearly, this is a worrisome time for those working on climate. In his campaign, President-elect Trump promised to promote fossil fuels, weaken common-sense environmental laws, and upend the hard-won climate investments of the last few years. Federal action on climate change is likely to stall, or even reverse, in the upcoming Trump era.

Even worse, Trump and his allies – including RFK Jr., Elon Musk, and others – routinely undermine scientific evidence and peddle disinformation. It is frightening to think we may experience another Trump “War on Science.” The world needs trusted science to help counter deadly threats, whether emerging diseases, weapons of mass destruction, or climate change. Without science at the center of our decision-making, we will make costly mistakes.

Despite these challenges, Project Drawdown isn’t backing down. In fact, we will stand up taller than ever to meet the moment.

First, we are going to stand up for science.

Until recently, science has enjoyed deep, bipartisan support from elected officials. Thoughtful leaders on both sides of the aisle – from Teddy Roosevelt to Truman, Kennedy to Nixon, George H.W. Bush to Biden – have used science to guide our country forward.

Those leaders knew what I know: America is at its best when science is accepted and used to do great things. Science helped us defeat fascism, win the Cold War, end polio, feed the world, land on the moon, and crack the genetic code of life. And it will be essential to end the climate crisis.

The greatness of America is founded on science. It helps lift people up, improve the human condition, and build a better world. Our world and our future depend on it.

At Project Drawdown, we will defend science and never waver in opposing lies and disinformation.

We will also stand up for dreams of a better future – and help keep them alive.

At this moment in human history, we cannot afford to be paralyzed by fear or apathy. The stakes are too high. We must continue to nurture our dreams of a better future – one filled with opportunity, possibility, and hope.

People have repeatedly told us that Project Drawdown has deeply inspired them to move beyond anxiety and fear toward a focus on solutions. By advancing the application of practical, science-based climate actions, we will continue to create a powerful vision of the future – and motivate people to come together, dream, and build a better world together.

Finally, we will stand up for climate heroes – and celebrate and support their incredible work.

The world needs climate heroes, even though they soon won’t be found in the White House. 

Instead, we should focus on the work happening in cities and towns nationwide. We must celebrate the innovation and entrepreneurship of leading companies and climate start-ups. We must learn from community change-makers, artists, scientists, and others across the country and beyond. Most of all, we must celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Sadly, we know we won’t see any climate leadership from the Trump Administration. But we will still find it – in abundance – everywhere else. And Project Drawdown will share these stories with the world.

Looking forward, we will dig in, redouble our efforts, and focus on science-based climate action. We will work tirelessly to uncover new solutions, celebrate incredible stories, and continue to serve communities across the globe.

We will not give up. We will not roll over. And we will remain fearless in advocating for science, dreams of a better future, and the heroes changing the world.

Thank you for your support of this crucial mission.

In gratitude,

Jonathan Foley, Ph.D.
Executive Director