Timon McPhearson

I'm pretty stoked to have this PNAS Special Feature on "The Ecology of Segregation in Cities" out. We assembled an incredible roster of experts. Check out the full issue of 8 papers including the scene setting Intro that Steward Pickett and I wrote. Full issue here: www.pnas.org/topic/576

🌱 Green Talent is looking for your experience! 💡 If you want to share your best practices on biodiversity and climate R&I with info about learning outcomes and practical tips, this post is for you! 👇 📱 Complete the form: forms.office.com/pages/respon... More info: green-talent.eu

Fires in France have now burned over 91,000 acres, by far the most of any year since the satellite record started in 2006. Current area burned is about 34x larger than this date in a typical (median) year:

📣 Upcoming online short course on the resilience of urban social-ecological-technological systems (SETS) 🏙️🌱 🗓️ 19-23 October 2026 📚 Online (2-3 synchronous sessions per day) ⚠️ Apply by 8 September 2026 ℹ️ Learn more and apply: socses.org/short-courses/

Some really fun discussions with some brilliant urban science minds. check out the others too!

Climate.us is live. Built by members of the team behind Climate.gov, this new independent nonprofit website keeps trusted climate information easy to find, easy to use, and harder to erase. #ClimateForUs #ClimateUS

Our latest research with @jnicolasclimate.bsky.social @annalombardi.bsky.social @claudiadinapoli.bsky.social shows how much heat stress has changed from the climate of the 1970s to our current climate, due to climate change, and how the number of people affected has increased over the last 50 yrs 🥵⬇️

this thread!

"there is only one majority in this country and that is the working class."

More tragedy for ecological science

y'all.

Hey all, it's so fun to be able to share the summary of all the work we got up to last year. It's been 10yrs since I started the Urban Systems Lab and this last year is a testament to the amazing people who call the Lab home. Enjoy!

If you want to help nature and climate in your region, or have science knowledge to contribute, see our draft report at naturerecord.org A bit of background here: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/c...

Thanks! we are really excited to put this report out, including a chapter focused entirely on the bright spots, where we are seeing success working with and for nature! It's the Public Comment period so please add your voice naturerecord.org

Me. I'm a mad scientist. (Paul Noth cartoons)

Conveniently forgotten. @ipcc.bsky.social AR6 SPM C.3 : "Hard limits to adaptation have been reached in some ecosystems (high confidence). With increasing global warming, losses and damages will increase and additional human and natural systems will reach adaptation limits (high confidence)."

Biodiversity isn’t only protected in parks and policy documents, it is defended on the ground by communities and social movements, often at great personal risk.⁠ ⁠ Study by ICTA-UAB & IBEI shows that 40% of socio-environmental mobilizations take place in the world’s most important biodiversity areas

This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again. www.nature.com/immersive/d4...

ICYMI: an international team has developed a new framework for understanding sustainable development. Instead of separating nature, society and economy, David Obura and co. propose a model that positions nature as the foundation.

Trees might be doing more for air quality than we thought #EarthDotCom #EarthSnap #Earth

It appears there is no withdraw process for @ipcc.bsky.social, participation in which is voluntary, free and open to all UN and WMO members. So the Trump administration’s supposed withdraw means less than their June firing of all the staff of the State Dept’s Office of Global Change

After the US admin cancelled the $B Climate + Weather Disaster dataset, @climatecentral.org hired the scientists who ran it and set it back up. Now the 2025 numbers are in: it's 3rd highest year on record and highest year w/o land-falling hurricanes. More: www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv...

"Because the U.S. entered the UNFCCC with advice and consent of the Senate in 1992, it’s our legal view that it also must be exited using the same process in reciprocation... Letting this lawless move stand could shut the U.S. out of climate diplomacy forever" www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

You thought the pictures from last night were incredible? Look at this!

thoughts and prayers to everyone in Jamaica today. stay safe!

Talking Nature Positive Cities and preview of our launch for the NATURA Global Roadmap for Urban Nature-based Solutions tomorrow at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. Join us if you are in-person or registered online. Exciting work ahead! iucncongress2025.org/programme/na...

"By most metrics, 2025 has been the worst year for the American scientific enterprise in modern history". The result - we are "essentially ending America’s longstanding role as the world leader in science and innovation,” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/s...

just nuts!

Jane Goodall was an inspiration to anyone who wants to see good happen on this planet. Advocating to the very end, she spoke to us as a Planetary Guardian at NYC Climate Week just last week! An irreplaceable voice helping show the value of all nature.We miss you Jane www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o...

Redefine how the world measures progress! 🌍🧑‍🌾🌽🌎🌴🐬🌏🚵‍♀️🍄🌐👍 Join the Global Expert Consultation to develop The Nature Relationship Index (NRI) @undp.org <15 mins to make a difference anu.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... > Deadline: Oct 15, 2025 > Background: rdcu.be/etpiQ

me too! there is hope in New York City!

Quotes get shortened (fine), but the point is that cities, governments, NGOs, individuals - ALL -must move from shock, concern, and worry to action that radically scales up adaptation and resilience investments to be better prepared for extreme rainfall and flooding www.nytimes.com/2025/09/06/s...

Here’s the simple truth that Donald Trump doesn’t want you to know: Climate change is making extreme weather disasters more frequent and severe. If we do not get our act together, this will only get worse.

Trump administration is going to go after the "endangerment finding" that's the basis of pretty much all federal climate regulation. A huge gift to the fossil fuel industry and a "screw you" to the world.

📰 Just out in @pnas.org special issue: @timonm.bsky.social + 23 authors synthesize 60+ reviews & global regional knowledge on urban #NatureBasedSolutions. 🔗 Read more: buff.ly/jGfYSqO #UrbanSustainability #NbS #PNAS

📰 Just published in @pnas.org special issue: @loandhi.bsky.social + @timonm.bsky.social offer 4 levers for transformative urban adaptation through #NatureBasedSolutions. Read: buff.ly/FXggzzN #NbS #PNAS #ClimateResilience

📰 Just out in @pnas.org special issue: @nfrantzeskaki.bsky.social , Katinka Wijsman, Nadja Kabisch, and @timonm.bsky.social explore how #NatureBasedSolutions can support just urban transformations. 🔗 buff.ly/1eEhcBx #NbS #UrbanJustice #UrbanSustainability #PNAS #JustTransitions

35. EPA preparing to revoke endangerment finding, in spite of all evidence that climate change does indeed endanger human welfare (July 23, 2025)

"A Proposed Budget Cut That Would Cripple American Science." --Amid Fear of Retaliation, N.S.F. Workers Sign Letter of Dissent. Story by @alexaroblesgil.bsky.social Gift link: nyti.ms/3IFzGKJ

Special @pnas.org issue explores how cities can harness nature-based solutions to climate change while advancing equity and public health. Contributors include @timonm.bsky.social‬ and Elizabeth Cook. www.pnas.org/about/specia...