Protecting Our Planet: A Letter to Our Community

Dear colleagues,

Today, the President of the United States withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Accord, an international pledge to reduce carbon emissions and global warming. Regardless of what decisions are made in Washington, The Field Museum will continue in its mission of documenting and preserving nature’s wonders and sharing those wonders with the rest of the world. The Field Museum has always been a proud supporter of science and defender of life on Earth, and the country’s withdrawal from the Paris Accord will not change that.

The issue of climate change is bigger than political factions, bigger than individual opinions. The Field Museum’s mission is to celebrate and explore this planet and the life it’s home to. Protecting our planet is tantamount to our mission.

The Earth’s climate has changed in the past, as a result of catastrophic volcanic activity, impacts by asteroids, and more. Here and now, it’s changing because of us. The science is clear. And while the gravity of this situation is undeniable, so is the chance for hope. We can endeavor to curb our misuse of natural resources and reduce the harmful carbon emissions that alter the chemistry of the air we breathe. These efforts can make a difference. They must.

From our Rapid Inventories in jungles half a world away to our LEED-certified building on Lake Shore Drive, we’ll keep making a difference. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our cause. I am honored to share this mission with all of you.

Sincerely,

Richard

Richard Lariviere, PhD

President and CEO

The Field Museum