“We are thrilled to welcome Megan to lead Spark’s Methane Removal program. She brings exactly the kind of leadership our climate needs right now—combining deep scientific and policy expertise with the courage to explore emerging climate solutions. She will bring the scientific rigor, innovative spirit, and commitment to transparency and social responsibility that are at the heart of Spark’s approach to advancing new climate fields.”— Erika Reinhardt, Executive Director, Spark Climate Solutions
I have always been drawn to the balance between humankind and nature, how deeply we depend on the planet, and how profoundly we affect it. Studying the atmosphere became my way of understanding that connection. It is one of Earth’s most vital resources, a thin and dynamic layer that sustains life and embodies the intricate balance between human activity and planetary systems. My career has been devoted to understanding that balance and ensuring that science informs the solutions we need to protect it.
For more than 15 years, I have worked at the intersection of atmospheric science and policy, from leading an international scientific organization to guiding government research portfolios. Most recently, I served as Deputy Director of NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory, where I led a 140-person research organization focused on air quality, climate, and the stratosphere. Earlier, as Executive Director of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Project, I helped build global collaborations to advance atmospheric research and bridge science with societal impact.
Throughout these experiences, I have seen that while science is essential, speed and agility matter just as much. Government and academic systems are powerful engines of discovery but often constrained by bureaucracy and limited flexibility. Addressing climate change demands the ability to act at a pace that matches the urgency of the challenge. That is why I joined Spark. As a science-focused nonprofit, Spark combines rigorous research and collaborative agility to accelerate progress on emerging climate solutions that might otherwise take decades to develop, maintaining independence and objectivity without a stake in any outcome.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, more than 80 times as effective as carbon dioxide at trapping heat over a 20-year period. Reducing methane emissions from human activities is one of the fastest ways to slow near-term warming. But mitigation alone may no longer be enough. As global temperatures rise, natural methane emissions from wetlands, thawing permafrost, and wildfires are increasing (see Spark’s Warming-Induced Emissions program). To prevent a self-reinforcing feedback loop, we must explore not only how to reduce emissions but also whether we can safely and effectively remove methane already in the atmosphere.
Over a decade ago, I co-authored Time to Act: The Opportunity to Simultaneously Mitigate Air Pollution and Climate Change, which argued that controlling air pollutants such as black carbon, methane, and tropospheric ozone would be “a highly effective way to reduce the rate of climate change in the near term.” We also warned that reducing pollutants like sulfur dioxide, which have a cooling effect, could “uncover warming from CO₂ already emitted,” increasing the urgency for action on short-lived climate forcers, a subset of what are now referred to as “super pollutants.” Together, these insights underscored a critical gap: even as we work to eliminate emissions at their sources, we must also prepare for a future where greenhouse gas removal, including methane removal, may play a necessary role.
Exploring methane removal is not about replacing decarbonization or traditional mitigation, but about building a comprehensive portfolio of climate solutions. The scientific community has a responsibility to investigate these emerging options before decisions are made to implement them (see 2024 NASEM Report on Methane Removal). While it is still uncertain whether viable or scalable approaches to atmospheric methane removal exist, that uncertainty is precisely why rigorous, transparent research is essential, as supported by a recent. If methane removal or other climate solutions are being considered by public or private actors, it is our responsibility to ensure those decisions are grounded in sound science, rigorous evaluation, and societal input.
Methane removal is part of a wider scientific effort to understand how greenhouse gas removal and other potential climate interventions could contribute to a safer, more stable climate.. What sets Spark apart is its commitment to doing this work transparently, collaboratively, and responsibly—bringing together scientists, decision-makers, philanthropies, and communities to ensure that emerging climate solutions serve the public good.
Joining Spark represents a natural extension of my career-long mission to connect science, policy, and leadership in service of a thriving planet and human prosperity. At Spark, I see an opportunity to help shape an emerging field at a pivotal moment by designing programs that are rigorous yet nimble, mentoring the next generation of talent, and building the partnerships needed to research credible potential solutions to climate change. It is about preparing for the future not with blind optimism, but with evidence, humility, and purpose.
Addressing climate change will not be achieved through any single approach. It will require coordination across sectors and scales to build a diverse portfolio of solutions that sustains the balance between people and the planet. What inspires me about Spark is its belief that curiosity, collaboration, and science can together unlock emerging climate solutions. I am proud to be part of this work, advancing efforts that expand our collective capacity to respond to climate change with both urgency and integrity.
“We are thrilled to welcome Megan to lead Spark’s Methane Removal program. She brings exactly the kind of leadership our climate needs right now—combining deep scientific and policy expertise with the courage to explore emerging climate solutions. She will bring the scientific rigor, innovative spirit, and commitment to transparency and social responsibility that are at the heart of Spark’s approach to advancing new climate fields.”— Erika Reinhardt, Executive Director, Spark Climate Solutions
I have always been drawn to the balance between humankind and nature, how deeply we depend on the planet, and how profoundly we affect it. Studying the atmosphere became my way of understanding that connection. It is one of Earth’s most vital resources, a thin and dynamic layer that sustains life and embodies the intricate balance between human activity and planetary systems. My career has been devoted to understanding that balance and ensuring that science informs the solutions we need to protect it.
For more than 15 years, I have worked at the intersection of atmospheric science and policy, from leading an international scientific organization to guiding government research portfolios. Most recently, I served as Deputy Director of NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory, where I led a 140-person research organization focused on air quality, climate, and the stratosphere. Earlier, as Executive Director of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Project, I helped build global collaborations to advance atmospheric research and bridge science with societal impact.
Throughout these experiences, I have seen that while science is essential, speed and agility matter just as much. Government and academic systems are powerful engines of discovery but often constrained by bureaucracy and limited flexibility. Addressing climate change demands the ability to act at a pace that matches the urgency of the challenge. That is why I joined Spark. As a science-focused nonprofit, Spark combines rigorous research and collaborative agility to accelerate progress on emerging climate solutions that might otherwise take decades to develop, maintaining independence and objectivity without a stake in any outcome.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, more than 80 times as effective as carbon dioxide at trapping heat over a 20-year period. Reducing methane emissions from human activities is one of the fastest ways to slow near-term warming. But mitigation alone may no longer be enough. As global temperatures rise, natural methane emissions from wetlands, thawing permafrost, and wildfires are increasing (see Spark’s Warming-Induced Emissions program). To prevent a self-reinforcing feedback loop, we must explore not only how to reduce emissions but also whether we can safely and effectively remove methane already in the atmosphere.
Over a decade ago, I co-authored Time to Act: The Opportunity to Simultaneously Mitigate Air Pollution and Climate Change, which argued that controlling air pollutants such as black carbon, methane, and tropospheric ozone would be “a highly effective way to reduce the rate of climate change in the near term.” We also warned that reducing pollutants like sulfur dioxide, which have a cooling effect, could “uncover warming from CO₂ already emitted,” increasing the urgency for action on short-lived climate forcers, a subset of what are now referred to as “super pollutants.” Together, these insights underscored a critical gap: even as we work to eliminate emissions at their sources, we must also prepare for a future where greenhouse gas removal, including methane removal, may play a necessary role.
Exploring methane removal is not about replacing decarbonization or traditional mitigation, but about building a comprehensive portfolio of climate solutions. The scientific community has a responsibility to investigate these emerging options before decisions are made to implement them (see 2024 NASEM Report on Methane Removal). While it is still uncertain whether viable or scalable approaches to atmospheric methane removal exist, that uncertainty is precisely why rigorous, transparent research is essential, as supported by a recent. If methane removal or other climate solutions are being considered by public or private actors, it is our responsibility to ensure those decisions are grounded in sound science, rigorous evaluation, and societal input.
Methane removal is part of a wider scientific effort to understand how greenhouse gas removal and other potential climate interventions could contribute to a safer, more stable climate.. What sets Spark apart is its commitment to doing this work transparently, collaboratively, and responsibly—bringing together scientists, decision-makers, philanthropies, and communities to ensure that emerging climate solutions serve the public good.
Joining Spark represents a natural extension of my career-long mission to connect science, policy, and leadership in service of a thriving planet and human prosperity. At Spark, I see an opportunity to help shape an emerging field at a pivotal moment by designing programs that are rigorous yet nimble, mentoring the next generation of talent, and building the partnerships needed to research credible potential solutions to climate change. It is about preparing for the future not with blind optimism, but with evidence, humility, and purpose.
Addressing climate change will not be achieved through any single approach. It will require coordination across sectors and scales to build a diverse portfolio of solutions that sustains the balance between people and the planet. What inspires me about Spark is its belief that curiosity, collaboration, and science can together unlock emerging climate solutions. I am proud to be part of this work, advancing efforts that expand our collective capacity to respond to climate change with both urgency and integrity.
“We are thrilled to welcome Megan to lead Spark’s Methane Removal program. She brings exactly the kind of leadership our climate needs right now—combining deep scientific and policy expertise with the courage to explore emerging climate solutions. She will bring the scientific rigor, innovative spirit, and commitment to transparency and social responsibility that are at the heart of Spark’s approach to advancing new climate fields.”— Erika Reinhardt, Executive Director, Spark Climate Solutions
I have always been drawn to the balance between humankind and nature, how deeply we depend on the planet, and how profoundly we affect it. Studying the atmosphere became my way of understanding that connection. It is one of Earth’s most vital resources, a thin and dynamic layer that sustains life and embodies the intricate balance between human activity and planetary systems. My career has been devoted to understanding that balance and ensuring that science informs the solutions we need to protect it.
For more than 15 years, I have worked at the intersection of atmospheric science and policy, from leading an international scientific organization to guiding government research portfolios. Most recently, I served as Deputy Director of NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory, where I led a 140-person research organization focused on air quality, climate, and the stratosphere. Earlier, as Executive Director of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Project, I helped build global collaborations to advance atmospheric research and bridge science with societal impact.
Throughout these experiences, I have seen that while science is essential, speed and agility matter just as much. Government and academic systems are powerful engines of discovery but often constrained by bureaucracy and limited flexibility. Addressing climate change demands the ability to act at a pace that matches the urgency of the challenge. That is why I joined Spark. As a science-focused nonprofit, Spark combines rigorous research and collaborative agility to accelerate progress on emerging climate solutions that might otherwise take decades to develop, maintaining independence and objectivity without a stake in any outcome.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, more than 80 times as effective as carbon dioxide at trapping heat over a 20-year period. Reducing methane emissions from human activities is one of the fastest ways to slow near-term warming. But mitigation alone may no longer be enough. As global temperatures rise, natural methane emissions from wetlands, thawing permafrost, and wildfires are increasing (see Spark’s Warming-Induced Emissions program). To prevent a self-reinforcing feedback loop, we must explore not only how to reduce emissions but also whether we can safely and effectively remove methane already in the atmosphere.
Over a decade ago, I co-authored Time to Act: The Opportunity to Simultaneously Mitigate Air Pollution and Climate Change, which argued that controlling air pollutants such as black carbon, methane, and tropospheric ozone would be “a highly effective way to reduce the rate of climate change in the near term.” We also warned that reducing pollutants like sulfur dioxide, which have a cooling effect, could “uncover warming from CO₂ already emitted,” increasing the urgency for action on short-lived climate forcers, a subset of what are now referred to as “super pollutants.” Together, these insights underscored a critical gap: even as we work to eliminate emissions at their sources, we must also prepare for a future where greenhouse gas removal, including methane removal, may play a necessary role.
Exploring methane removal is not about replacing decarbonization or traditional mitigation, but about building a comprehensive portfolio of climate solutions. The scientific community has a responsibility to investigate these emerging options before decisions are made to implement them (see 2024 NASEM Report on Methane Removal). While it is still uncertain whether viable or scalable approaches to atmospheric methane removal exist, that uncertainty is precisely why rigorous, transparent research is essential, as supported by a recent. If methane removal or other climate solutions are being considered by public or private actors, it is our responsibility to ensure those decisions are grounded in sound science, rigorous evaluation, and societal input.
Methane removal is part of a wider scientific effort to understand how greenhouse gas removal and other potential climate interventions could contribute to a safer, more stable climate.. What sets Spark apart is its commitment to doing this work transparently, collaboratively, and responsibly—bringing together scientists, decision-makers, philanthropies, and communities to ensure that emerging climate solutions serve the public good.
Joining Spark represents a natural extension of my career-long mission to connect science, policy, and leadership in service of a thriving planet and human prosperity. At Spark, I see an opportunity to help shape an emerging field at a pivotal moment by designing programs that are rigorous yet nimble, mentoring the next generation of talent, and building the partnerships needed to research credible potential solutions to climate change. It is about preparing for the future not with blind optimism, but with evidence, humility, and purpose.
Addressing climate change will not be achieved through any single approach. It will require coordination across sectors and scales to build a diverse portfolio of solutions that sustains the balance between people and the planet. What inspires me about Spark is its belief that curiosity, collaboration, and science can together unlock emerging climate solutions. I am proud to be part of this work, advancing efforts that expand our collective capacity to respond to climate change with both urgency and integrity.
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