Rafe Pomerance, an American environmentalist, died on May 21, 2026, of lung cancer.
He was 79. Pomerance was a Distinguished Senior Arctic Policy Fellow of the Woodwell Climate Research Center.
Beginning in the late 1970s, he played a key role in raising awareness of the risks of climate change for United States policymakers. His role during the period from 1979 to 1989 is detailed in the book “Losing Earth” by Nathaniel Rich. Pomerance graduated from Cornell University in 1968 with a B.A. in history.
Rafe Pomerance, 79, American environmentalist, lung cancer.