The Current Is there still hope for the climate?
Dec 23, 2025
Katharine Hayhoe, a renowned climate scientist and chief scientist for Nature United, joins Rick Smith, President of the Canadian Climate Institute, to discuss the state of the climate in 2025. They explore the dual crises of extreme weather and attacks on climate science, highlighting how vested interests threaten vital research. Despite challenges, they find optimism in global clean energy trends and technological progress. Smith underscores Canada’s need for a robust climate policy, advocating for low-carbon solutions amidst uncertainty.
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Value Of A Global Climate Hub
- The National Center for Atmospheric Research is a global hub for climate and weather science that supports forecasting, models, and instruments.
- Breaking it apart would remove critical knowledge that keeps people safe and informs major climate decisions.
Cuts Cause Global Science Loss
- Cuts to U.S. science funding will ripple globally through lost careers, halted projects, and disrupted collaborations.
- Katharine Hayhoe warns this could be a generational wiping out of scientific knowledge and capacity.
Personal Toll On A Climate Scientist
- Katharine Hayhoe describes limiting news intake because constant attacks on science breed outrage and sadness.
- She feels sorrow for researchers and communities losing vital health and climate knowledge due to cancellations.