Navigating Change as a New Horizon Emerges
Tamar Hagopian Schlekat, SETAC North America Executive Director
On an equinox, the sun appears only on the horizon at the Earth’s poles. Yet these days, it is often difficult to envision a light at the end of the horizon. As the first equinox of 2025 is approaching, the health of our planet is likely very near a tipping point. The intersection of the triple planetary crises (exceedance of planetary boundaries, biodiversity loss, waste and chemical pollution) with the calamities impacting the triple nexus (humanitarian, development, peace sectors), often fueled by greed and exploitation, is coming to a climax. This is compounded because environmental challenges do not respect geopolitical boundaries, and autocratic regimes certainly do not.
Recently, the new U.S. administration is fueling these humanitarian and environmental crises around the globe. Regulatory shifts in the U.S. have raised concerns within the environmental science community. On March 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced what it described as the “Biggest Deregulatory Action in U.S. History,” followed by the announcement that the “Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm” with the aim to lay off more than 1,000 USEPA chemists, biologists and other scientists, many of them SETAC North America members. This comes in addition to broader workforce reductions across all federal agencies, especially in areas that perform vital public health and scientific research functions (including DOD, DOE, FDA, NIH, NASA, NOAA, USDA, etc.), raising significant concerns about the future of evidence-based policymaking and environmental protection. The dismantling of regulations and reductions in resource allocations for environmental and health sciences, both essential for public health and the sustainability of our natural resources, pose a serious threat to our well-being and our future.
Considering these developments, the SETAC North America Board of Directors is working tirelessly to react to the challenges and to support our members, while continuing to advance SETAC’s mission. SETAC remains committed to scientific collaboration, advocacy for science-informed decision-making, and the promotion of environmental quality through research and dialogue. SETAC also remains dedicated to our principles, including science-based objectivity, and our values, including diversity, equity and inclusion.
Through these turbulent times, we are proud to be the global home of environmental scientists and embrace all our members, wherever they may be throughout their career journey. We are diligent in following the SETAC Inclusion Strategy, which has always been grounded in evidence-based approaches and focuses on removing barriers, mitigating for bias and fostering welcoming and inclusive spaces.
SETAC recognizes the challenges faced by members experiencing job insecurity, job loss or limited opportunity. In support, we have made the SETAC Career Center site free for employers to encourage more job postings. It has always been, and remains, free to post fellowships, requests for proposals and upload resumes for employers to search.
To advocate for sustained research funding in the U.S., SETAC North America is collaborating with other scientific institutions and has signed two letters to the U.S. Senate Appropriation Committee urging continued investment in science and evidence-based policy-making. Members are encouraged to use these resources in their own advocacy efforts. Collectively our voice is louder.
SETAC is unwavering in our support for environmental health and environmental justice. To advocate for science-informed environmental regulations in the U.S., we invite our members to review, assess and comment what is being reported on in the news and the federal register. We have seen member reactions to the “Removal of NEPA Implementing Regulations.” The SETAC North America Board of Directors will review proposals and offer comments, solutions and strategies on relevant issues. We encourage our member experts to reach out to us and share their insights on the promised rollbacks on 31 regulations, which were put in place to ensure human and environmental health.
If you are concerned about the closing of the USEPA Office of Research and Development and the proposed changes in environmental regulations, the SETAC North America Board of Directors urges members to take action.
Environmental impacts are directly tied to public health, affecting everything from air and water quality to long-term well-being. We encourage members to advocate directly and highlight key issues such as job loss, rising costs of living, and the broader economic and health consequences. For a listing of elected officials, see Congress.gov.
In times of political and social division, empathy and understanding are more important than ever. Many in the SETAC community have been affected by funding reductions, job losses and shifting career opportunities. As an organization incorporated in the U.S. but serving a global membership, SETAC relies on the collective support of its members, leadership and staff. Now is the time to come together, engage in productive discussions, and uphold the values of science and environmental stewardship. By working as one SETAC, we can continue to promote Environmental Quality Through Science® and ensure that scientific integrity remains at the core of decision-making.
Author’s contact: [email protected]