400+ scientists to Hill+Knowlton: Drop Fossil Fuels, Make COP27 a Success

To:

​​AnnaMaria DeSalva, CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Mark Read, CEO of WPP plc

As scientists who study and communicate about climate change, we are constantly faced with the twin challenges of addressing the climate emergency and overcoming fossil fuel industry-backed disinformation campaigns. 

Up until now, Hill+Knowlton has played an enabling role in these campaigns to mislead the public through its work with clients such as Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative. These clients have not taken the fundamental steps necessary to address the climate emergency and sharply rein in fossil fuels. Instead, they have used Hill+Knowlton and other PR agencies to spin, delay, and mislead, in order to continue expanding fossil fuel production and thereby increasing heat-trapping emissions.

We firmly believe that Hill+Knowlton’s work for these clients is incompatible with its role leading public communications at the annual United Nations climate talks in 2022 (also known as COP27).

These clients’ business plans to increase fossil fuel production run counter to the goals of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process to create a just, global process to limit the worst impacts of climate change. 

The UNFCCC is one of the most important international institutions, and deserves support from talented communicators who are not saddled by such a conflict. Representing the fossil fuel industry undermines Hill+Knowlton’s legitimacy and credibility in working on behalf of COP27. We call on Hill+Knowlton to end its relationship with fossil fuel clients that are worsening the climate crisis, and commit fully to the climate action the world desperately needs.

Press contact:

Sanjali De Silva, Union of Concerned Scientists

SDeSilva@ucsusa.org, +1 303-396-7325 

Signed,

(affiliations listed for identification purposes only)

Astrid Caldas, Ph.D., CC-P®, Union of Concerned Scientists

Pep Canadell, Ph.D., CSIRO Climate Science Centre

Rachel Cleetus, Ph.D., Union of Concerned Scientists

Naomi Oreskes, Ph.D., Harvard University

Geoffrey Supran, Ph.D., Harvard University 

Gary Yohe, Ph.D.; Wesleyan University (Emeritus); longtime senior member of the IPCC and Vice-Chair of the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment

Bonnie Abel, Ph.D. 

Peter Abrams, Ph.D. University of Toronto

Peter Alexander, Ph.D. 

Margaret Alic, Ph.D. 

Stuart Allison, Ph.D. Knox College

Lynda Ames, Ph.D. 

Virginia Anderson, Ph.D. 

Feroza Ardeshir, Ph.D. 

PA Azeez, Ph.D. 

Stephen Bachhuber, M.D. 

Norman Baker, Ph.D. 

George Bakken, Ph.D. Indiana State University

Michael Balsai, Ph.D. 

Peter Barland, M.D. 

Oron Bass, Jr., M.A./M.S. 

William G Bauza, M.A./M.S. Buffalo State College

Charles Bazerman, Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara

Jennifer Becker, M.A./M.S. 

Nola Becket, M.A./M.S. Oregon Health & Science University

Peter Belau, B.A./B.S. 

Stephen Bellus, Ph.D. SUNY Buffalo State College

Robert Bench, M.A./M.S. 

Elyce M. Benham, M.A./M.S. 

Garrett Bergman, M.D. 

Michael Bergman, Ph.D. 

Joseph Berkson, M.D. 

Julie Bernstein, Ph.D. 

Miriam Bertram, Ph.D. University of Washington

Alan Betts, Ph.D. Atmospheric Research

Jason Black, M.A./M.S. Clark University

Jonathan Blick, B.A./B.S. 

Robert Bloyer, D.O. 

Wanda Boker, M.A./M.S. 

Clarence Bolin, B.A./B.S. 

Jim Boone, Ph.D. 

Vivian Bosque, Ph.D. University of Houston

Jan Boudart, M.A./M.S. Nuclear Energy Information Service

Kathryn Bourgoin, M.D. 

Janet Bovenkerk, M.A./M.S. 

Alaina Boyle, Ph.D. candidate Northeastern University

Spyros Braoudakis, Ph.D. 

Keith Brill, M.A./M.S. 

Kevin Brown, Ph.D. 

John R. Brown, M.A./M.S. 

Barbara Bryce, Psy. D.  

Joan Budd, M.D. 

Alison Buist, Ph.D. 

Theodore Burger, M.D. 

Hannah Burns, M.A./M.S. Green Neighbor Challenge and Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Ruth Burstrom, M.D. 

Tara Bylsma, M.D. 

Jim Byrne, M.A./M.S. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife; University of Rhode Island

John Campbell, B.A./B.S. 

Christian Camphire, M.A./M.S. 

Bobb Carson, Ph.D. Lehigh University (Emeritus)

Elaine Caton, Ph.D. 

Kristen Cheney, Ph.D. 

Jeanne Chinn, M.A./M.S. Being With Wolves 

Pete Clapham, Jr., Ph.D. 

Stephanie Clark, Ph.D. 

Downing Cless, Ph.D. 

Ruth Clifford, Ph.D. 

Anne-Marie Codur, Ph.D. Tufts University

Charles Cohen, Ph.D. 

Anne Cohen, Ph.D. 

Rajal Cohen, Ph.D. 

Douglas Conant, Dr. P.H. 

Jim Cooper, Ph.D. University of Minnesota

John Cornely, Ph.D. 

David L. Craft, M.A./M.S. 

Morgan Crawford, M.A./M.S. candidate University of South Florida

Don Crozier, M.A./M.S. 

William Cutts, M.D. Greeley Medical Clinic (Retired)

Kristina A. Dahl, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Barry Daly, M.D. University of Maryland

Gary Davis, Ph.D. 

Curtis Davis, M.A./M.S. candidate 

Mason Deaver, M.A./M.S. 

Elizabeth DeLyria, Ph.D. 

Jim Derzon, Ph.D. 

Kelly DeVine, M.A./M.S. 

Susan Diaz, M.D. 

Michael Dickinson, M.D. 

Mohammed Diouri, Ph.D. Université Mohammed Premier

Ann Dorsey, M.A./M.S. 

Jeffrey Dravis, Ph.D. 

Jessica Dunn, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Peter Egan, Ph.D. 

Erica Ehrhardt, Ph.D. University of Cologne

Brenda Ekwurzel, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Mike Ellison, Ph.D. 

Nadav Enbar, M.A./M.S. 

Eileen Entin, Ph.D. 

Joseph Evelyn, M.A./M.S. candidate 

Cathey  E. Falvo, M.D. International Society of Doctors for the Environment

James R. Fancher, M.B.A. 

John Farrington, Ph.D. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Dean emeritus)

Ryszard Feldman, M.A./M.S. 

John Felton, Ph.D. 

Manuel Fiadeiro, Ph.D. 

Quentin Fischer, Ph.D. 

Stephan Flint, M.A./M.S. Utah State University (Retired)

Mike Follman, M.A./M.S. 

Mike Foreman, B.A./B.S. 

Michael Forster, M.A./M.S. 

Chanese Forté, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Patricia Foschi, Ph.D. San Francisco State University

Tom Frost, Ph.D. 

Peter Frumhoff, Ph.D. Harvard University

Marc Garcelon, Ph.D. 

Paula García, M.A./M.S. 

Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D. The John Hopkins University School of Medicine

Jenene G. Garey, Ph.D. New York University (Retired)

Steven Gary, M.A./M.S. 

Alvaro Garza, M.D. 

Charles Gasparovic, Ph.D. University of New Mexico

Peter Gegenheimer, Ph.D. University of Kansas–Lawrence (Retired)

Madelaine Georgette, M.A./M.S. 

Suhas Ghatge, M.A./M.S. 

Karen Glennemeier, Ph.D. 

Rebecca Gluskin, Ph.D. Social Science Research Council

William Golding, M.A./M.S. 

Bill Goldsborough, M.A./M.S. 

Beverly Goodman, M.D. 

Ron Goodman, Ph.D. 

Anita Gould, Ph.D. 

Lise Grace, M.A./M.S. 

Royal Graves, M.A./M.S. 

Fred Greef, M.A./M.S. University of Connecticut

Jay Greenberg, Ph.D. 

David Greenfield, M.D. 

Laura Grego, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Greg Grether, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles

Georgia Griffin, D.O. McLaren Medical Group

Gary Groth-Marnat, Ph.D. Pacifica Graduate Institute

J. Barry Gurdin, Ph.D. 

Susanne Hale, M.A./M.S. 

Bobbi Hall, Dr. P.H. Oregon State University

Charles Halpern, Ph.D. University of Washington

Stephen Hamilton, Ph.D. 

Robin Hamlin, M.A./M.S. 

Ryan Hanson, M.A./M.S. 

John Hardy, M.A./M.S. 

Patricia Harlow, Ph.D. 

David Harris, M.D. Boston Children's Hospital

Donna Harris, D.V.M. 

Molly Hauck, Ph.D. 

Catherine Hawthorne, M.D. 

Michael Heaney, M.A./M.S. Mondre Energy

Bette Hecox-Lea, Ph.D. 

Beverly Hector-Smith, M.A./M.S. 

Valerie Herr, Ph.D. 

Sidney Herszenson, M.D. 

Jonathan Hill, M.A./M.S. candidate 

Ward Hinds, M.D. 

Bruce Hlodnicki, M.D. 

Lynn Hoang, M.D. 

William Hoffer, B.A./B.S. 

Elisabeth Holder, M.A./M.S. 

Richard Holdstock, M.P.H. University of California, Davis (Retired)

John Hoover II, M.D. 

William Horne, Ph.D. 

Mark Houdashelt, Ph.D. 

Samantha Houston, M.A./M.S. Union of Concerned Scientists

Edward Hubbard, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Lisa Hughes, Dr. P.H. 

Cynthia Hull, M.A./M.S. 

Stephen Hunt, M.A./M.S. 

Richard Jackson, M.D. 

Nicole Jacobs, Ph.D. Colorado State University

Trudy Jacobs, D.V.M. 

Karen Jacques, Ph.D. 

Christopher J. Jensen, Ph.D. 

Maryanne Jerome, M.D. 

Jose-Luis Jimenez, Ph.D. University of Colorado-Boulder

Andrew Jones, Ph.D. California State University, Fresno

Virginia Jones, Ph.D. Congregation of St. Joseph

James Jones, M.A./M.S. 

Sandra Joos, Ph.D. 

Julia Jorgensen, Ph.D. 

Pratistha Joshi Rajkarnikar, Ph.D. 

Susan Judge, Ph.D. 

Tom Kabat, B.A./B.S. 

Henry Kahn, M.D. Emory University School of Medicine (Emeritus)

Ronald Karpick, M.D. 

William Katzin, Ph.D. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Thomas Keel, M.A./M.S. 

Bobby Keeland, Ph.D. U.S. Geological Survey (Retired)

Diane Keeney, Ph.D. 

Lori Kegler, M.A./M.S. 

Don Kelley, M.D. 

Sara Kennedy, M.A./M.S. 

David Kerlick, Ph.D. 

Harrie Kessler, M.A./M.S. 

Steven Ketchel, M.D. 

Martha Kirpes, Ph.D. 

Renee Klein, M.A./M.S. 

Phil Klein, Ph.D. 

James Klick, M.D. 

Ned Knight, Ph.D. Linfield University

Peter Knuepfer, Ph.D. Binghamton University

Steve Kohl, M.D. 

R. Wade Kohlmann, B.A./B.S. 

John Kolstoe, M.D. 

Bruce Krawisz, M.D. 

Johanna Chao Kreilick, M.A./M.S. Union of Concerned Scientists

Robert Lang, M.D. 

Don Langstaff, Ph.D. 

Richard LaVal, Ph.D. The Monteverde Bat Jungle

Allen Lavee, M.D. 

Vinnedge Lawrence, Ph.D. 

Richard Lawrence, Ph.D. 

Breck Lebegue, M.D. 

Kenneth Lederman, Ph.D. candidate 

Dennis Lees, Ph.D. candidate Littoral Ecological and Environmental Services

Charlotte Lehmann, M.A./M.S. 

Marilyn Lemmon, M.A./M.S. 

Peter LeVon, Ph.D. 

Emanuel Lewis, M.A./M.S. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (Retired)

Rachel Licker, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

David Liedlich, M.A./M.S. 

Ashley Lindell, M.D. 

Virgene Link-New, D.D.S. 

David Lohrmann, Ph.D. Indiana University

Frank Lorch, M.D. 

Hilary Lorraine, Dr. P.H. 

Rosa Lucas, M.A./M.S. 

Karolyne Lucero, Ph.D. 

Alison Lynch, M.D. 

David Lyons, M.A./M.S. 

Stephen C. Maack, Ph.D. REAP Change Consultants

Maria Magana, M.A./M.S. IBM Corporation (Retired)

Jed Maker, M.D. 

Victoria Marcello, Ph.D. 

David Mark Welch, Ph.D. Marine Biological Laboratory

Leslie Marshall, Ph.D. 

Julie Mascarenhas, Ph.D. 

Albert R. Matheny, Ph.D. University of Florida (Retired)

Pat McCullough, M.D. 

D.C. McGuire, Ph.D. candidate 

Karla McNamara, Ph.D. 

Donald McNellis, M.D. 

William Meneese, Ph.D. 

Delta Merner, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Kathleen M. Mezoff, M.D. 

Douglas Miller, M.D. 

Susanna H. Miller, M.A./M.S. 

Janet Miller, Ph.D. 

Christopher Milly, Ph.D. 

Darya Minovi, M.P.H. 

Jan Modjeski, Ph.D. 

James Monroe, M.A./M.S. 

Phil Monroe, M.D. 

William Moomaw, Ph.D. Tufts University (Emeritus)

Twila Moon, Ph.D. 

Carolyn Morado, Ph.D. 

Eileen Moran, Ph.D. 

Lowell Morrison, M.A./M.S. 

Douglas Morrison, Ph.D. 

Mark Mountford, M.D. 

Joan Murray, Ph.D. 

Jacob Naeb, M.A./M.S. 

Jim Neal, M.A./M.S. 

Elizabeth Newton, Ph.D. 

Tanya Nieri, Ph.D. University of California, Riverside

Pamela Nitsos, M.D. 

Gretchen North, Ph.D. Occidental College

Susan Nossal, Ph.D. 

Sean O'Connell, Ph.D. 

Dewey Odhner, M.A./M.S. University of Pennsylvania

Lorrie F. Odom, M.D. University of Colorado School of Medicine

Avi Ornstein, Ed.D., M.A./M.S. 

Margaret O'Rourke, D.V.M. 

Matthew Orr, Ph.D. Oregon State University

J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida, Dr. P.H. Union of Concerned Scientists

Dick Ottman, M.A./M.S. 

Ronald Pagnucco, Ph.D. 

Lorna Paisley, M.A./M.S. 

Karl Palmquist, Ph.D. candidate 

Sue Parsell, M.A./M.S. 

Patricia Parsley, M.D. 

Linda Paul, Ph.D. 

Stephen Pazdziorko, M.A./M.S. 

Guillermo Pereira, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Janet Perlman, M.D. 

Alan Peterson, M.D. 

J. Dan Pittillo, Ph.D. 

Lance Polya, Ph.D. 

Al Poplawsky, Ph.D. University of Idaho

John Potter, Ph.D. 

Rebecca Procter, Dr. P.H. 

Peter Prontzos, Ph.D. candidate 

William Prothero, Jr., Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara

Dan Quinn, Ph.D. 

Julia Radwany, M.D. 

Paul Ranney, M.A./M.S. 

Robert Reed, M.A./M.S. 

David Reichmuth, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Joanne Reisch, M.D. 

Arnold Reitze, J.D., M.P.H. 

Steven Rekant, D.V.M. 

Roshan Reporter, M.D. 

Martha Rhoades, M.D. 

Beverly Richards-Smith, Ph.D. 

Juanita Rinas, Ph.D. 

Susan Ristow, M.D. 

W. Wright Robinson, M.A./M.S. 

Ruth Robison, Ph.D. University of Hawai`i at Hilo (Retired)

Lisa Roche, Ph.D. 

John Rogers, M.A./M.S. Union of Concerned Scientists

Donald Ross, Ph.D. University of Vermont

Ella Rowan, M.A./M.S. 

Jean Roy, M.A./M.S. 

Geoffrey Ruben, M.D. West Virginia University School of Medicine

Nicole Rubin, Ph.D. 

Stuart Rubinow, Ph.D. 

Laurie Ryan, Ph.D. 

Shaina Sadai, Ph.D. 

Daniel Safer, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania

Michelle Saint-Germain, Ph.D. 

Ricardo Salvador, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Antonio Sarmiento, Ph.D. 

Linda Schermer, M.P.H. 

Charles Schick, Ph.D. 

Arndt Schimmelmann, Ph.D. Indiana University

Jeffrey Schimpff, M.A./M.S. 

Richard Schloss, M.D. 

Juliet Schor, Ph.D. 

Laura Schulz, Ph.D. 

Phyllis Senter, M.D. 

Mitra Shams, M.D. 

Patricia Sheely, M.A./M.S. 

Derek Shendell, D. Env., M.P.H. 

Phil Shephard III, M.A./M.S. 

Carol Sibley, Ph.D. 

Peter Sigmann, M.D. 

Linda Silversmith, Ph.D. 

Juliet Simpson, Ph.D. 

Catherine Sims, M.D. 

Janice Singer, M.P.H. 

Margaret Singh, Dr. P.H. 

David Skinner, Ph.D. Santa Clara University (Emeritus)

Michael Sklar, M.A./M.S. 

Clifford Smith, Ph.D. 

Copley Smoak, M.A./M.S. 

Nicholas Snow, M.D. Shenandoah University

Richard Solomon, Ph.D. 

Runar Gjerp Solstad, Ph.D. Nofima

Lawrence Spatz, Ph.D. 

Dylan Spaulding, Ph.D. Union of Concerned Scientists

Diana Stein, Ph.D. Mount Holyoke College (Retired)

Richard Stein, Ph.D. 

Rick Steiner, M.A./M.S. Oasis Earth; University of Alaska (Retired)

Leigh Stephens, D.V.M. 

Roger Stephenson, M.A./M.S. 

Dianna Paviso Stern, M.P.H. 

Philip Stewart, Ph.D. 

Sarah Stewart, Ph.D. 

MJ Strimbu, B.A./B.S. 

Edward Stuebing, Ph.D. 

Kathleen Susman, Ph.D. Vassar College

Dennis Sweeney, M.D. 

Tim Takaro, M.D. Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Regi Teasley, Ph.D. 

Ray Telfair  II, Ph.D. 

Alan Temes, Ph.D. 

David Thomas, Ph.D. Lyon College

John Tjepkema, Ph.D. 

Pepper Trail, Ph.D. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Retired)

Keith Tse, Ph.D. candidate 

Audrey Urbano, M.D., FACEP 

Tom Valente, M.D. 

Elisabeth Julie Vargo, Ph.D. 

Marc Vayssieres, Ph.D. 

Yaamini Venkataraman, Ph.D. 

Charmaine Venters, M.D. 

Sara Via, Ph.D. University of Maryland

John Vickery, M.A./M.S. 

Jan Visser, Ph.D. Learning Development Institute

Richard von Rueden, M.D. 

Gretchen Blu Wagner, Dr. P.H. 

John Wakeman, Ph.D. candidate 

Greg Walker, Ph.D. 

Steven Wallace, M.A./M.S. 

Edward Walworth, M.D. 

Deane Wang, Ph.D. University of Vermont

Allan Wang, M.D. 

Ronald Ward, M.D. University of California, San Francisco

Sheila Ward, Ph.D. 

Kathleen Washienko, M.P.H. 

Fran Webber, Ph.D. candidate University of Rhode Island

Mary Weeden, Ph.D. 

David Weiss, Ph.D. Iowa State University

Alexandra Welsko, J.D., M.A./M.S. 

Christopher Wenzel, Ph.D. candidate 

Mel Werbach, M.D. 

Patricia Whelehan, Ph.D. 

Katherine White, M.D. 

Walter Whiteley, Ph.D. York University (Emeritus)

Lynn Wilbur, Ph.D. candidate 

James Williams, Ph.D. 

Paul Willis, M.A./M.S. 

Monte Wilson, Ph.D. Boise State University (Retired)

Sam Wilson, M.A./M.S. Union of Concerned Scientists

Marian Wineman, M.A./M.S. WR Consulting, Inc.

Charles Wolfe, M.A./M.S. 

Patrick Worms, M.A./M.S. CIFOR-ICRAF

Don Wright, Ph.D. Virginia Institute of Marine Science (Emeritus)

Victoria Wu, Ph.D. 

Tristram Wyatt, Ph.D. University of Oxford

Judson Wynne, Ph.D. 

Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, Ph.D. Farmworker Association of Florida

Emily Yeh, Ph.D. University of Colorado

Yonit Yogev, M.A./M.S. 

Elizabeth Yuster, M.A./M.S. 

Eric Zimdars, M.A./M.S. 

Barbara Zingg, M.A./M.S. 

Judith Zwicker, Ph.D.