Ramanathan Wins Crafoord Prize, Shifts Focus to Climate “How”

Why this is here: The roundtable included participants from a wide range of fields, including astronauts and physicians, reflecting a growing recognition that climate change is not solely an environmental issue.

Veerabhadran “Ram” Ramanathan received the 2026 Crafoord Prize in Geosciences in Sweden for his research on aerosols and climate pollutants. Following the award ceremony, Ramanathan convened a roundtable with scientists, policymakers, and other experts at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The group discussed moving beyond debate about if climate change is happening, to how humanity can protect vulnerable populations over the next 25 years.

Participants framed the crisis as deeply unequal, imagining three “planets” with vastly different capacities to adapt to climate extremes. They agreed that climate action requires not just scientific solutions, but also improved communication, financial investment, and effective implementation. Dabo Guan of Tsinghua University stressed the need to provide clean energy access to developing nations.

The conversation highlighted the importance of addressing methane emissions for short-term gains, alongside long-term carbon dioxide reductions. Participants also recognized that framing climate change as a public health crisis may resonate more effectively with the public. The work to translate understanding into coordinated action continues.