Climate Impacts Group

Director’s Corner: Onward

Dear Climate Impacts Group community:

I was delighted to join the Climate Impacts Group as the new director this February, and I am honored to lead this amazing team. Between collaborating with Amy Snover on a chapter of my PhD dissertation in 2016, to frequently crossing paths with Guillaume Mauger on aquatic habitat restoration and climate change adaptation issues over the last several years, when I decided to make the transition to CIG, it felt like coming home! I have so appreciated the warm welcome from the CIG staff, the UW community, and all of our partners and collaborators.

As many of you know, it’s been a difficult few months for CIG with the termination of two of our major NOAA grants, including the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative. 

Q&A: Amy Snover, outgoing director of the UW Climate Impacts Group

Dr. Amy Snover recently sat down with UW News to reflect on her 20+ years at the group, what she’s most proud of, and share her thoughts on overcoming hopelessness in the face of climate change. 

Read the Q&A. 

Amy’s last day with the Climate Impacts Group is Wednesday, June 15, 2022. She is retiring to spend more time with her husband, Chip. Learn more about Amy’s next chapter.

“No matter what you do, or what your skills are, you can have a role in shaping that future and thinking about how we prepare for and reduce climate change. 

CIG Director Amy Snover recognized in King County Proclamation and letter from WA Governor Inslee

As Amy’s time with the UW Climate Impacts Group and NW CASC draws to a close, colleagues and leaders from across the Northwest have expressed the profound impact that Amy has had on helping the Northwest prepare for the impacts of climate change. In a recent retirement celebration held at the UW Arboretum, many shared their experiences working with Amy and how her dedication, humility and vision have influenced their work and touched their lives.

The celebration was made even more special by recognition from King County and Washington Governor Jay Inslee. King County published a proclamation that June 7, 2022 was officially Amy Snover Day in King County. 

Clearing the air

Amy Snover, director of the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group, discusses how to talk publicly about—and more importantly, act upon—climate change.  

Director’s Corner: Expressing Gratitude at the End of a Long Year

We are coming to the end of a challenging year. This time last year, none of us could have imagined what 2020 would look like. A pandemic that would bring heartbreaking death, loss and broken dreams; widespread civil unrest in response to ongoing racial injustice and police violence; and unprecedented Western wildfires with a record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season. Many of us, including the Climate Impacts Group team, struggled with the challenges of working from home while raising and schooling children, while many others lost their jobs or risked everything to keep them.

In my October blog post I mentioned turning to gratitude during these difficult times. 

Director’s Corner: A Voyage of Discovery

The Climate Impacts Groups’ first grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Science Administration charged the team of scientists with a “voyage of discovery.” 25 years and even more discoveries later, the group at the University of Washington is still on a scientific quest to support climate-smart decision making across the Northwest region. 

Setting sail — without a map

When Edward Miles established the Climate Impacts Group in 1995, he wanted to advance the conversation about — and action on — climate.

Miles, University of Washington Professor of Marine Affairs, saw a large gap between the scale of information produced about climate change and the needs of people who could help prepare for climate risks. 

Director’s Corner: Celebrating 25 Years of Building Climate Resilience

This year, the Climate Impacts Group marks 25 years of building climate resilience through rigorous science and innovative, cross-sector partnerships. We are excited to spend the academic year celebrating efforts across the Northwest to prepare for the effects of climate change. We invite our partners, fellow scientists, supporters of our work and members of the public to join us.

Over the next six months, we will host three virtual lectures related to climate resilience.

Our first event, scheduled for Thursday, December 3, features Climate Impacts Group scientists and partners in discussion about efforts across the state of Washington to prepare for rising sea levels and shifting ecosystems.