Current research and outreach projects

CURRENT PROJECTS

Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment

I am a coordinating lead author for the synthesis chapter of the North American (Canada, Mexico, US) Assessment of Biodiversity in the context of climate change, which will hopefully be published in 2026. 

Climate, the arts and the cultural sector

I have a longstanding interest in how the arts and creative sector connect to climate change and have served on several advisory boards to cultural organizations. As a long term member of the board of Julie's Bicycle I document and promote their collaborations with artists and cultural leaders to reduce emissions and communicate climate change and review their reports on responses to climate change.  

Climate Justice

As a member of the Earth Commission I collaborated with Joyeeta Gupta (U. Amsterdam), Lauren Gifford, and others to develop a justice approach to setting targets to reduce the risks of global changes where we have published several articles since 2020.  I have stepped down from the Earth Commission but I am still involved in publications and in thinking about approaches to justice.  I also serve on the climate advisory board for the Mayor of Tucson, helping to develop the city's climate action plan.  I am a volunteer helping to coordinate the Arizona state group affiliated with Third Act, a group created by activist Bill McKibben to engage 'elders' - those over 60 who want to make a difference on climate change.  

Gender and climate science

I was the rapporteur for the IPCC Gender Task Force making recommendations on gender balance and voice in the IPCC and together with Miriam Gay-Antaki and others have written about our findings (see publications page). I also help maintain the wikipedia page on women in climate change. 

Climate Adaptation

With the University of Arizona Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions and through the work of my former graduate students I continue to be interested in climate adaptation, the governance of adaptation, discourses of adaptation, and how to assess the effectiveness of climate adaptation. I am collaborating to document the impact of recent US federal actions on the funding and science of adaptation in the US and internationally.