Two climate scientists were kicked out of the biggest meeting of the Earth and space sciences on Thursday.
NASA climate scientist Peter Kalmus told Insider he acted on his own behalf when he climbed onstage at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, an association of 60,000 advocates and professionals in the Earth and space sciences
Scientists presented their latest research on how humans are changing the planet at the meeting.
Both Kalmus and Abramoff have been arrested multiple times this year as part of the climate protests. They wanted to encourage other scientists to do their own research as well.
Kalmus said that if the people who know the most about Earth breakdown are still acting like it's fine, then everyone else will act like it's fine.
Kalmus and Abramoff unfurled a banner that said "out of the lab and into the streets" and called for their colleagues to take action against climate change.
They told Insider that they had prepared about 20 seconds of remarks and were going to do this during the brief pause between introductory remarks and the first speaker.
They didn't know that they would be competing with a voice over.
—Peter Kalmus (@ClimateHuman) December 16, 2022
The planet is dying. It is frightening. Everything is in danger. Scientists have a lot of leverage but need to use it. Kalmus introduced the first speaker and said we could wake everyone up.
According to video footage from the event, a woman grabbed the banner from the man as he called for action.
The pair were escorted off the stage by AGU staff.
Kalmus and Abramoff said that two staff members took their conference badges from them.
AGU staff told her that if she or Kalmus came back to the fall meeting, they would be arrested, and that they were contacting their employers to complain.
"I interpreted that as a threat, which I don't know if it was a hollow threat or not, to try and get us fired, and I think that's what I meant," he said.
The statement was sent via email.
The subject of art and science was disrupted just as the first speaker began her presentation. AGU staff and security were able to remove the protesters from the stage.
All issues in Earth and space science can be debated and discussed at the AGU Fall Meeting. We have to make sure that everyone is safe. The AGU Meetings and Events Code of Conduct requires attendees to treat everyone with respect.
The reaction was harsher than she anticipated.
"I think it doesn't reflect well on the American Geophysical Union, that they're silencing scientists for trying to sound the alarm about what I think most people agree is a pretty severe crisis," he said.
The fall meeting included a dire report card on the state of theArctic, projections of future extreme heat, and floods, research on record-breaking wildfire seasons, and discussions on how to feed.
Kalmus said that he was grateful that the AGU existed.
He said that he didn't feel like it was responding in a timely manner to the science that it helps to foster.
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