The Climate Club Science Panel ensures every action we recommend is backed by science
Our Science Panel helps interpret climate research, gives clarity to the public on the science, and lends their mana and voice to calls for structural change that gets communities, businesses, Government, councils and whānau moving. They represent the overwhelming majority of scientists worldwide who are demanding climate action now.
Appointed in January 2026, the panel of independent climate scientists together bring more than 90 years of combined climate knowledge. The panel’s work is guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and recognises mātauranga Māori as a vital source of climate knowledge. They represent the overwhelming majority of scientists worldwide who are demanding climate action now.
Dr JIM SALINGER
Pioneering climate scientist
Dr Jim Salinger has dedicated fifty years to advancing climate science. He is recognised as one of the first scientists to address global warming, in his ground-breaking 1975 paper showing rising temperatures. His work focuses on climate extremes including drought, ocean-atmosphere temperatures, and glacial ice shrinking in the New Zealand Southern Alps.
As a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Jim contributed to work that earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He was made a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2001 for services to climate science and public communication. He holds the 2018 World Meteorological Organisation Award, the 2019 Jubilee Medal for lifetime achievements in climate and agricultural science, and in 2024 was named New Zealander of the Year.
Dr Jim continues to publish widely in climate research, and to work with communities (and anyone who will listen) to bring clarity on the science and call on governments for urgent action. Read Dr Jim’s report on Temperatures in New Zealand during 2025.
It is important to make decisions now in the face of uncertainty: by the time we know about the wrecking of a globe heating up, the time will be past for effective cushioning strategies.
Dr CARLY GREEN
Global policy, local action
Dr Carly is the Panel’s expert in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change policy. She has been working in global climate change mitigation for over 20 years, helping governments, corporates and primary producers across New Zealand, South America, Asia Pacific and West Africa measure and reduce their emissions.
Dr Green served as IPCC Lead Author for the 2019 Refinement of the 2006 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories and is the Guidance and Content Manager of the Global Forest Observations Initiative, work that fundamentally changed how developing countries contribute to climate negotiations. Carly founded Environmental Accounting Services in 2007, working to support governments, corporates and producers with greenhouse gas measurement, reporting and verification in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use sector.
At a local scale, Dr Green is an advocate for local action on climate change mitigation. She is founding trustee of Wao Aotearoa, a community climate action initiative, and has served on the Queenstown Lakes District Council climate advisory group.
Climate action isn’t one decision — it’s a collective practice. Align policy, science, and leadership, and change becomes business as usual.
Dr GREG BODEKER
Climate change and the weather
Dr Greg Bodeker uses technology and climate science to help New Zealanders understand the impacts of climate change on the weather. He is recognised internationally for his work in stratospheric research and climate observing systems, holding leadership roles with the World Climate Research Programme and the Global Climate Observing System.
Dr Greg leads a team focused on helping government and private sector understand
how climate change is impacting our weather. With his team he has developed New Zealand’s first forecast-model-based extreme weather event attribution system, using technology and AI to show how climate change is intensifying storms, droughts, and floods.
A passionate innovator and educator, Dr Greg also co-founded Red Sky AI, is a director of Kentron Ltd, an intellectual property incubator, and is an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University’s Climate Change Research Institute. He has published more than 140 papers on climate science.
After 30 years of compelling scientific evidence, I’ve learned that data alone doesn’t motivate change. Real progress comes from personal engagement and helping people understand climate science in a way that connects with them.
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What’s the latest from our Science Panel?
Head over to our Reports page to explore the latest research as well as actions you can take.