4 November 2026
WHAT: COP31 will be the last UN climate summit before the United States officially ceases to be a Party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As an official observer organization to both the UNFCCC and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and a partnering organization of the Ocean Pavilion, AGU leadership will be attending COP31 and is available for interviews before and during the conference on:
- The state of US science: what researchers, institutions, and the scientific workforce are facing at home, and why it matters globally.
- What US withdrawal means: the consequences for global climate collaboration, for the data and expertise the world relies on, and for US influence and competitiveness.
- Advancing international scientific collaboration: What AGU is doing to help ensure the global scientific community can build, preserve, and apply the knowledge needed to address climate challenges, whether through partnerships with UN bodies and programs, support for scientific assessments, efforts to strengthen data resilience, or advocacy for evidence-based policymaking.
- Climate Intervention research: AGU leadership is available to discuss the policy debates, scientific opportunities, and risks surrounding climate intervention research, including AGU’s Ethical Framework for Climate Intervention Research, which outlines considerations for governance, transparency, equity, and risk.
WHO: Janice Lachance, Executive Director & CEO, AGU
WHEN & WHERE: Interviews available the week leading up to and during COP31 (9–20 November 2026)
- Virtual/Phone interviews before COP31 by appointment via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or phone
- Virtual, phone, or in-person interviews available during COP31 by appointment
Learn More About AGU at COP31
For additional information on AGU’s objectives at COP31, events, programming, and opportunities to engage with AGU scientists and leaders during the conference, visit AGU at COP31: https://www.agu.org/agu-at-cop
TO SCHEDULE: To arrange an interview, contact Samson Reiny at [email protected].
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AGU (www.agu.org) is a global community supporting more than half a million professionals and advocates in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.