Rafe Pomerance, Influential Climate Change Advocate, Passes Away at 79
Rafe Pomerance, the Paul Revere of Climate Change, Dies at 79

Image: The New York Times
Rafe Pomerance, a pivotal environmentalist known for his early warnings about climate change, passed away at 79 due to lung cancer. He played a crucial role in raising awareness about the dangers of coal emissions and was a key figure in the climate movement during the late 1970s and 1980s.
- 01Pomerance discovered the link between coal burning and atmospheric warming in a 1979 EPA report.
- 02He was featured in Nathaniel Rich's 2018 article 'Losing Earth,' which highlighted the missed opportunities in addressing climate change from 1979 to 1989.
- 03Rich described Pomerance as the 'central figure' in making climate change a political issue during its early days.
- 04Despite his charisma, Pomerance chose not to be the public face of the climate movement, understanding the importance of strategic messaging.
- 05He worked as a lobbyist for Friends of the Earth in the 1970s and early 80s, influencing both political parties.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Rafe Pomerance, an influential environmentalist and climate change advocate, died at the age of 79 due to lung cancer. He gained recognition for his pivotal role in raising awareness about climate change, particularly after discovering a critical link between coal emissions and atmospheric warming in a 1979 Environmental Protection Agency report. This finding motivated him to alert both the public and policymakers about the impending dangers of climate change, earning him a reputation akin to that of Paul Revere. His efforts were chronicled in Nathaniel Rich's 2018 article 'Losing Earth,' which portrayed the years from 1979 to 1989 as a crucial yet ultimately squandered opportunity to address climate change at a national level. Rich referred to Pomerance as the 'central figure' in the emergence of climate change as a political issue, highlighting his behind-the-scenes influence. Despite his engaging personality, Pomerance opted to remain out of the spotlight, understanding the complexities of effective advocacy. His work with Friends of the Earth during the late 1970s and early 1980s helped shape the discourse around climate change, influencing leaders across the political spectrum.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
How important do you think individual advocacy is in combating climate change?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.



