Stand Up for Science plans Climate Week panel on science, democracy and climate

Stand Up for Science will host a public discussion in Midtown during New York Climate Week 2026 on Wednesday, bringing climate scientists and science advocates together to examine the gap between scientific consensus and democratic decision-making. The free event will be livestreamed and open to questions from attendees.

Why it matters: - The panel is designed to tackle a core climate-policy problem: scientific urgency often moves faster than democratic systems. - The discussion comes during New York Climate Week 2026, when climate leaders, advocates and policymakers are already focused on near-term action. - The event is free and open to the public, which broadens access to a conversation that usually stays inside expert circles.

What happened: - Stand Up for Science will host “Science, Democracy and Climate” on Wednesday, September 23, at 3 pm Eastern in Midtown Manhattan. - The panel will feature Dr. Colette Delawalla, CEO and founder of Stand Up for Science, as moderator. - Dr. Ticora Jones, chief science officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Dr. Michael Mann, a climate researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, will join the discussion. - The event will be held at 22 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016. - Interested attendees can reserve a spot through the event link included in the announcement.

The details: - The conversation will explore the relationship among scientific consensus, democratic governance and the climate crisis. - Panelists will examine why democratic systems sometimes struggle to keep pace with scientific urgency. - The discussion will focus on what it will take to bridge the gap between evidence and action. - Attendees will be able to submit questions during the event. - The panel will be livestreamed on Stand Up for Science’s YouTube channel, and a recording will be available afterward.

Between the lines: - The lineup pairs a science advocate, a major climate policy voice and a leading climate researcher, signaling an effort to connect research, activism and public decision-making. - The event framing suggests Stand Up for Science wants to elevate democracy as a climate issue, not just emissions, technology or regulation. - The group has positioned itself as a broader science-and-democracy mobilization effort since forming in February 2025.

What's next: - The panel will take place on Wednesday afternoon, with live streaming for remote viewers. - Organizers will likely use audience questions and the recording to extend the conversation beyond the in-room event. - Stand Up for Science is continuing to build visibility through public events tied to science policy and democratic governance.

The bottom line: - Stand Up for Science is using Climate Week to argue that climate action depends not just on evidence, but on democratic systems that can act on it quickly.