Woodwell a ‘Towering Giant’ of Climate Science

WASHINGTON - Pioneering climate scientist and founding board member of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) George Woodwell died June 18.

NRDC president and CEO Manish Bapna made the following statement:

“We’ve lost a towering giant who left an indelible mark on the science of climate change and the public action we must take to confront it. 

“George sounded the climate alarm five decades ago, warning that the burning of fossil fuels was driving an abrupt and unprecedented increase in carbon pollution that was impacting ‘the stuff of life itself.’ He devoted his career to advancing climate science and helping policy makers grasp its meaning.
      
“At a time when too many people dismiss evidence and facts, believing that truth is somehow up for grabs, George set an example of intellectual rigor. He taught us that science is as much about asking the right questions as about finding the correct answers. He was skeptical of certainty and those who held fast to old views as new information surfaced. He valued his critics for what they might teach him and he relished a good argument. 
      
“Through those qualities, and others, George instilled in our board, and our staff, a striving for excellence. He insisted, always, that we keep faith with our mission to stand up to polluters, demand more from our leaders and protect the systems that support all life. We will miss him and we are grateful for his life of service and the rich and lasting legacy he leaves.”

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).