International Association for Urban Climate

Mar. 24, 2017

IAUC Board Statement on the US Executive Order

The International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC) is a non-governmental organization representing the international urban climatological and meteorological community.  The IAUC fosters a view of a diverse and inclusive community of researchers, scholars, academics, students and others with interests related to the study of urban climate and meteorology.

The recently revised Executive Order, and its predecessor, issued by the President of the United States run counter to the ideals of the IAUC.  The IAUC identifies itself as a free and open society with three primary goals: to foster education and scholarship related to urban climate and meteorology, to facilitate communication with policy makers and end-users of urban meteorological and climatological data, and to encourage the use of urban climate and meteorological information in the design planning and operation of urban areas so that they may become safer, healthier and more sustainable.

We denounce this Executive Order and assert our support for all IAUC members.  The success of scientific and academic organizations depends on a willingness for open collaboration and exchange of information, people and ideas.  This order is detrimental to the scientific, educational and operational goals of the IAUC and to the aspirations of our members.  We urge the US Executive to reconsider the order.

We are committed to supporting all IAUC members who may be impacted by the Executive Order requiring travel to the United States to attend meetings sponsored by the IAUC including the upcoming ICUC-10, to take up visiting scientist appointments, for graduate studies, or for temporary or permanent employment in research centers and universities.  We will work with US organizations to develop processes by which we can minimize the impacts of any such order to our membership and their IAUC-related activities.

A pdf copy of this statement is available here.