In December 2025, the Chilean government announced that it would discontinue funding for the Center for Climate and Resilience Research in Santiago. As co-chairs (J.-C.E. and M.H.M.) and members (G.P. and P.A.A.) of the Andes Hydroclimate Research Program, we think this is a devastating blow to South American climate research at a time of climate stress. In the past decade, the region has seen extreme weather, and droughts and glacial retreat threaten water security for millions of people. Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print issues and online access $199.00 per year only $3.90 per issue Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from$1.95 to$39.95 Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Nature 650, 1070 (2026) doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00592-y The authors declare no competing interests.…