Susan Solomon Wins 2026 Tang Prize for Climate Science Leadership

Solomon’s research proved that chlorofluorocarbons were the primary catalyst for the widening ozone hole over Antarctica, a discovery that fundamentally altered international environmental governance. By identifying the specific heterogeneous chemical reactions responsible for ozone loss, she provided the scientific bedrock for the Montreal Protocol. Her work extends beyond the ozone layer; she has demonstrated that the atmospheric impacts of carbon dioxide emissions remain largely irreversible for over a millennium.

Currently the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor at MIT, Solomon spent three decades at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before transitioning to academia. Her career is marked by her co-leadership of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report, a document that synthesized the physical science of climate change for global policymakers. The Tang Prize Foundation, established by Dr. Samuel Yin in 2012, selects recipients based on their capacity to address 21st-century challenges. Solomon joins a roster of distinguished laureates, with the prize grant intended to further her ongoing contributions to environmental research and public outreach.