George Ropes ’66

George Ropes ’66, an early pioneer in providing objective information about climate change, passed away peacefully in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 8, 2022. George grew up in Scarsdale, New York, and played lacrosse and soccer at Dartmouth while majoring in English literature and American studies. He served in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic from 1966 to 1968 and then taught in public and private schools in New York City before leaving to pursue advanced studies. George earned an M.S. with a concentration in international nutrition policy and planning from MIT in 1978. He was with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a nonprofit aid and development organization, from 1980 to 2003, living and working in Egypt, India, and Angola and helping computerize CRS’ office of information services. His unique background equipped George to write eloquently about the multifaceted issue of global climate change. He was the founder and longtime senior editor of ClimateYou.org, dedicated to providing reliable information on the changing climate to the general public, educators, and students. He also authored Waking Up to Climate Change, published by World Scientific, a compilation of his writings from ClimateYou.org that illuminated his clear and realistic view of the future. The book provides key information about the many solutions already in the pipeline and offers ways for everyone to take meaningful action—steps George believed would, if followed, save the earth.