Dr. Carlos Javier Martinez is a senior climate scientist with the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. In his role, he focuses on community-driven research, earth-system modeling, data analysis, and science-policy integration.
Prior to joining UCS, Dr. Martinez served at the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he oversaw a climate resilience research portfolio, working with scientists, policymakers, and community leaders. He was the strategic lead on the NSF Environmental Justice Strategic Plan and NSF’s contributions to the United Nations Ocean Decade on Sustainable Development. He was also involved with the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), supporting the 5th and 6th National Climate Assessments and the National Nature Assessment, and co-authored the U.S. Climate Literacy Guide. Dr. Martinez earned a PhD in earth and environmental sciences from Columbia University, and a BS in meteorology from Texas A&M University. He leads the American Meteorological Society’s Committee on Spirituality, Multifaith Outreach, and Science (COSMOS), and is a council member for the American Geophysical Union (AGU).