The Role of Public-Private-Philanthropic Partnerships in Driving the Next Decade of Carbon Cycle and Climate Science Enterprise

April 09, 2026

Abhishek Chatterjee

Hosted by Chris O'Dell

Abstract

Future climate predictions and societal responses to climate change require a comprehensive understanding of carbon-climate feedbacks and changes to the carbon cycle. This understanding is fundamentally tied to our ability to track and quantify the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), as well as their variability and future dynamics. Over the last decade, satellite-based observations have been instrumental in deepening our understanding of the current carbon cycle and its interaction with climate. Publicly funded satellite missions such as JAXA’s Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite, NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3, and ESA’s Sentinel-5P TROPOMI have enhanced our ability to monitor the carbon cycle at diverse spatiotemporal scales across both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. In this talk, I will highlight key examples of how data from these missions have contributed to our foundational knowledge on contemporary carbon sources and sinks, and how these insights have informed key technological innovations and catalyzed advances in our modeling frameworks.

Looking forward to the next decade, however, continued progress in carbon cycle science will depend on long-term observational continuity, sustained investment, and flexible funding models that support high-risk, high-reward research–particularly in under-resourced regions. This is where public-private-philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) offer a promising pathway to accelerate scientific advancements, drive technological innovation, and foster a more agile and responsive carbon observation ecosystem. I will conclude by discussing how such partnerships can help bridge gaps between scientific research, policy development, and societal needs, enabling a more integrated, effective, and equitable global response to climate change.

Dr. Abhishek Chatterjee is a Senior Program Scientist at Schmidt Sciences, with extensive expertise in carbon cycle science, greenhouse gases, Earth system modeling, and the application of remote sensing data to quantify carbon–climate feedbacks. Prior to joining Schmidt Sciences in February of this year, he spent more than a decade at NASA, where he most recently served as Project Scientist for the OCO-3 mission and Deputy Project Scientist for the OCO-2 mission.

Dr. Chatterjee currently serves as a lead author for the Third Decadal U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Plan and has contributed to several major national assessments, including the Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report and the Fifth National Climate Assessment. He co-chairs the North American Carbon Program Science Leadership Group and remains actively engaged in research through participation in multiple NASA Science Teams. His international contributions include involvement in initiatives such as the Global Carbon Budget, Regional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes (RECCAP), the World Meteorological Organization, and the World Climate Research Programme. He also holds a Visiting Associate appointment at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Dr. Chatterjee earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2012. He subsequently held a NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder before joining NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in 2015 and later transitioning to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2021.