Honoring the Legacy of Our Founding Executive Director

I worked with Adam for 5 years on Bio4Climate’s Compendium project. Adam was a steady and generous mentor who provided me with comradery, connection to the broader Bio4Climate community, and co-learning and companionship in the exploration of biodiversity. The process of developing the Compendium was such a blessing because it gave me the chance to dig deep to try to understand how ecosystems work and how we depend on them. I learned through the process of trying to explain scientific concepts in writing in ways anyone could understand. 

Adam and I often talked about how to get the important ideas presented in the Compendium in front of more people, and what media formats would be more accessible than a pdf link on a website. He shared about the Compendium to a Chelsea Green editor at an organic farming conference at one point, and then introduced me to her. She encouraged me to write a book proposal, and this ultimately led to the publication of Mini-Forest Revolution. Without Bio4Climate and Adam in particular, I would not have had the vision nor the conceptual framework to have conceived of or written this book. 

I appreciate Adam for his courage to use his voice, his receptivity to other people’s voices, his curiosity and hunger to keep learning, and for his authenticity and heart. He brought people together and kept us energized toward a common goal and shared vision. I am so grateful that our paths crossed and were connected for a good while during which Adam’s influence helped to set my life in a new and very positive trajectory.

Hannah Lewis

I am so sorry that Adam died.  He was a tremendous force for good.  All his incredible work for bio for climate had a profound effect on many people, including me.  His efforts helped reshape my thinking about what we need to do.   I think that other environmental groups are finally catching up with him.

Rosalie Anders
Mass Peace Action, Peace and Climate Group

I am so sorry to hear about Adam’s passing. I knew he had been in poor health for a while, but when I think of Adam what pops up in my mind is him striding down the streets of Cambridge, talking animatedly about various ideas and strategies, and me struggling to keep up (with the long strides and the ideas). Adam set things in motion: once he understood the nature-climate connection—once the lightbulb went on, as it did for many of us around the same time—he was unstoppable. He quickly saw the potential for paradigm-shifting conferences, and went all in, bringing in scientists and innovators from across the globe. Propelling Bio4Climate forward was a true calling, a 24-hour mission. One of the great gifts of his leadership was the invitation for young people to take part and find their voice. Another great gift was the way he always kept me honest: he would make sure that I didn’t get too pessimistic, or too rosy. I will remember him with much fondness and admiration.

Judith D. Schwartz

Brave and creative, funny and brilliant.

Michael Kanter

Dear Family and Friends of Adam,

I just wrote Adam an email this evening to get back in touch with him after having been out of touch for too long.

I worked with him at Bio4Climate between 2017 and 2022. I got busy with other things after 2022, but have been carrying what I learned through Bio4Climate with me, as I will continue to do. I am so grateful to have known and worked with Adam and the whole Bio4Climate team, which enriched my life and my understanding of the world. It was specifically Adam who nudged me along in my biodiversity-focused learning and writing journey that led to my writing Mini-forest Revolution. And it was Adam who connected me to Chelsea Green, which published this book. Adam was a steady and generous mentor to me.

It was just by chance that a few minutes after sending my long overdue email to Adam this evening that I stumbled upon the announcement of his passing.

I take comfort in knowing that Adam’s vision and legacy lives on in the many, many people he brought together.

Hannah Lewis

To Adam’s family and friends,

I became aware of Adam Sacks around 2013 as an articulate thinker who popped up in online forums that I participated in about biology, climate and science. He was an active debater with well-formed opinions and I had to presume he was an excellent typist. Within a couple of years I found myself in some local events and got to know him a little bit, and through a web of connections I found myself working with Biodiversity for a Liveable Climate right around the time it got its name.

Adam’s management style made all the difference in making BLC happen. I still marvel at the chutzpah that was required to ask some of the world’s most important scientists and practitioners to be part of a conference for a new organization with virtually no budget, and to have the confidence that this was really possible. I suppose he was somewhat dictatorial, but because he put trust and confidence in team members we were able to form a cohesive team and achieve amazing things.

I was always in agreement with Adam’s critique of the mainstream climate movement, but he steered the organization to present a much fuller and more proactive vision of what climate activism could be. I think his persistence with that vision had, and still has, a big impact on many people.

Brian Cartwright

I saw the news about Adam today. I’m sad to know of his death. I really appreciated him. He was kind and supportive of me.

Coakee William Wildcat

I’m so sorry to hear of Adam’s passing. He was a brilliant and courageous advocate for ecosystem restoration as a path to human survival. We need many more like him. Every time I saw him, wherever it was, he had arrived by bicycle. I gradually came to think he could traverse the world on that bike! Maybe he did.

Richard Heinberg

My deepest condolences to all of you at bio4climate. I never met Adam but deeply appreciate his work and dedication to the most important work of our time. Immense gratitude and Godspeed Adam. ❤️

Lynn Jones

I am very sorry to learn of Adam’s passing.

I fondly remember taking Adam sailing in Woods Hole while discussing Marine Permaculture a decade ago. He contributed significantly to the movement to regenerate biodiversity as a climate solution, and he will be sorely missed.

Brian von Herzen

I am very sad to hear this news. Sending his family and friends love and prayers.

Julie Arnold

Oh, no! This is very sad news! Rest in peace, Adam….. Your legacy, along with the countless resources you’ve shared, has truly made a difference and will continue to inspire change. Thank you for everything you have started with Jim, Paula, and others. Almost 3 years ago, you were planning to go say goodbye to Jan Lambert, and now I am sure she is there to meet you.

Zuzka Mulkerin