AGU is a global community of more than half a million scientists, professionals and allies in the Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU accelerates knowledge and creates solutions that are ethical, unbiased, and respectful of communities and their values. 

 

Expand discovery and innovation in the Earth and space sciences 

Discovery-driven exploration of Earth and space advances fundamental knowledge and inspires the public. When broadly and equitably applied and disseminated, Earth and space science is critical to developing effective solutions and risk reduction strategies for societal challenges. AGU supports policies that: 

 

• Increase and promote sustained government investments in Earth and space science research, science infrastructure, and scientific innovation. 

• Ensure equitable access to high quality STEM education and career opportunities, remove institutional barriers, and create innovative pathways for students, researchers and communities, and other policies that increase diversity and inclusion in the sciences. 

• Promote convergence science—which is science that is driven by a compelling problem and brings together experts from diverse disciplines—and remove institutional barriers and create innovative pathways for students, researchers, and communities to address societal challenges. 

• Advance the exploration and mapping of our oceans, universe, and natural resources, which are all critical to our national and economic security, as well as our well-being.  

 

Build a society resilient to climate change and environmental hazards 

The hazards facing society today are inextricably linked to each other and to human and natural systems and actions. To counter, adapt, and thrive in the face of these global challenges requires research and solutions that account for these linkages and focus on the most impacted communities. AGU supports policies that: 

• Boost climate research to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, alongside policies that promote ethical research programs on climate intervention. 

• Strengthen research into the processes and impacts of environmental hazards, such as wildfires and flooding, as well as policies that seek to improve disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. 

• Prioritize the needs of the communities most vulnerable to the threats posed by climate change and environmental hazards, especially policies that recognize and challenge existing disparities in the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens within and across impacted communities.  

• Advance our understanding of the complex interactions between the environment (including water, soils, and air) and human and ecological health, as well as policies that generate solutions for identified environmental and health challenges.  

• Further our understanding of, and our ability to address, issues related to water resources, such as water availability and quality, and water-related disasters. 

 

Improve the production, accessibility, and integrity of scientific knowledge 

The free, open, and responsible practice of science is fundamental to scientific advancement for both human and environmental well-being. Science requires freedom of movement, collaboration, and communication, as well as equitable access to data and resources. AGU supports policies that: 

• Strengthen and foster international scientific collaborations and ensure that research security measures impacting international researchers and collaborations are well-justified and clearly defined. 

• Enhance the capacity and accessibility of community science—the process by which communities and scientists collaborate to conduct and leverage scientific research and technological innovation to advance community priorities. 

• Make scientific data findable, openly accessible, interoperable, and reusable for everyone (FAIR), as well as policies that open the processes of scientific knowledge creation, evaluation, and communication to societal actors beyond the traditional scientific community. 

• Recognize and integrate Indigenous Knowledge into scientific research and policy decisions, while safeguarding Indigenous data sovereignty and stewardship using the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. 

 

For additional information on AGU’s policy priorities, please contact [email protected].