Harvard's Holdren to be Obama's science adviser, Globe learns

Earlier this afternoon, Science magazine had reported on its website that there were strong indications of Holdren's appointment. He was supposed to attend a staff meeting this morning at the Kennedy School but instead flew to a meeting in Chicago with the Obama transition team, Science reported.

In August, Holdren published an opinion piece in the Globe chastising skeptics of global warming. "The extent of unfounded skepticism about the disruption of global climate by human-produced greenhouse gases is not just regrettable, it is dangerous," he wrote. "It has delayed -- and continues to delay -- the development of the political consensus that will be needed if society is to embrace remedies commensurate with the challenge."

That political consensus will be at the heart of the mission of Obama's science advisor. The president-elect has clearly stated his intentions to take the issue head-on, saying he would vigorously move ahead with efforts to promote alternative energy sources such as wind and solar and reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming.

AAAS Chief Executive Officer Alan I. Leshner called the apparent appointment "enlightened" in a statement. "John Holdren's expertise spans so many issues of great concern at this point in history -- climate change, energy and energy technology, nuclear proliferation," he said. "He is widely respected in the United States and around the world as a science leader."