Trump Axes Key Climate Report, Sparks Outcry from Scientists
Trump administration dismisses climate scientists from their posts
(Washington) In a bold move that's sparking outrage amongst scientists, Donald Trump's administration announced on Monday the firing of the authors of a scientific report instrumental in shaping climate response policies for over 25 years - the Sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA6).
In an email to NCA6 contributors, the federal government revealed that the report's scope was being "reevaluated," effectively relieving the authors of their duties. This decision follows mass layoffs within the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) earlier this month, the federal agency responsible for overseeing this report, which is legislatively required to submit the assessment to Congress and the President.
This report, comprising contributions from hundreds of researchers, is a comprehensive documentation of the impact of climate change across all sectors, typically published every five years. The next edition was planned for 2027.
Regardless of its non-binding status, these reports are indispensable tools for lawmakers, businesses, and local governments in planning climate resilience measures.
Rachel Cleetus, author of the report's chapter on the impact of warming on coasts, voiced her disapproval in a statement: "Today, the Trump administration has recklessly axed a crucial and comprehensive American scientific climate report by firing its authors without cause." She added, "Trying to bury this report won't change the scientific facts, but without this information, our country risks navigating blindly in a world made more dangerous by human-caused climate change."
Since regaining power in January, Trump has embarked on a sweeping overhaul of federal institutions, dismissing thousands of officials, including climate scientists and public health experts.
Detractors view this decision as a politically-motivated move, running counter to scientific consensus, and it risks derailing a critical assessment vital to the nation's preparedness against climate change[2][3][4]. The reasons behind this decision are not explicitly linked to any specific scientific disagreement or cause. Instead, this move aligns with the Trump administration's past skepticism towards climate science and attempts to roll back environmental regulations[4]. The future of the report remains uncertain, as it is mandated by Congress and due for publication in 2028[3].
- The Sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA6), a comprehensive study on the impact of climate change, is legislatively required to be published every five years and submitted to Congress and the President.
- The authors of this report, instrumental in shaping climate response policies for over 25 years, have been dismissed by the Trump administration, a move that's sparked outrage amongst scientists.
- Regardless of its non-binding status, these reports serve as indispensable tools for lawmakers, businesses, and local governments in planning climate resilience measures.
- In a general news title, "Trump Axes Key Climate Report, Sparks Outcry from Scientists," it was revealed that the scope of the NCA6 is being "reevaluated," which effectively relieves the authors of their duties.
- Rachel Cleetus, author of the report's chapter on the impact of warming on coasts, voiced her disapproval, stating that this move risks derailing a critical assessment vital to the nation's preparedness against climate change.
- This politically-motivated decision, seen as dismissing climate science and environmental regulations, aligns with the Trump administration's past skepticism towards climate science and policy-and-legislation concerning the environment.
