Trump administration removes all authors involved in significant climate report, leaving US evaluation uncertain
Unraveling the Climate Change Report Crisis: What's Going Down with NCA6?
Here's the lowdown on the Sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA6) and the intense chaos unfolding due to the Trump administration's recent moves. Let's dive in.
- The Boot:The Trump administration has shown the door to the scientists and authors handling NCA6. An email sent on Monday confirms the news, as reported by CNN. With these experts out of the picture, the administration has two options: either skip the report altogether or partake in a potentially heavily skewed interpretation of climate science - bucking the overwhelming evidence pointing to the perils of global warming for the US.
- Bye, Bye Funding:This joining of forces between climate scientists and the Trump administration isn't a match made in heaven. The administration also scrapped funding for the U.S. Global Change Research Program and axed a contract with ICF International, a consulting firm that helped manage the program across 13 federal agencies. Essentially, this put the brakes on collaborative work on climate change issues among these agencies.
- Congressional Obligation:Despite these actions, the program is bound by law to turn over the National Climate Assessment to Congress under the Global Change Research Act of 1990. The next assessment is due by 2027, but the future of the report remains uncertain given the current disruptions.
As for the NCA5, it saw the light of day in 2023 and showed climate change is already wreaking havoc on every corner of the country. We're dealing with increased and intensified extreme weather and a host of other costly and harmful effects.
But hold up, this isn't the first time this has happened under the Trump administration. The Fourth Assessment, completed during his first term, was suppressed by publishing it on the day after Thanksgiving.
These reports serve an invaluable purpose for local, state, and regional officials, offering insights into how climate change affects their communities now and in the future, and what can be done to mitigate the risks. As Dustin Mulvaney, a professor at San Jose State University, put it, "Losing this report makes us less prepared for extreme weather, wildfire, sea level rise, and other important changes we face on a warming planet."
But Krosby warns, "Its loss or potential adulteration, if completed, would have real impact on the ability of our communities to understand and prepare for climate risks." The credibility of the report hinges on the experts who ensure its scientific integrity.
There's more upheaval than the report alone, though. As the website for the Global Change Research Program states, "The operations and structure of the USGCRP are currently under review."
In essence, the fate of NCA6 remains uncertain, threatening America's preparation for climate change repercussions. A potentially skewed report featuring fringe scientific views looms, and the country is left in the dark as to how Congress's mandate will be fulfilled. Buckle up for the bumpy ride ahead.
- The abrupt exit of scientists handling NCA6 under the Trump administration raises concerns about the report's potential omission or biased interpretation, disregarding the consensus on climate change's gravity.
- The cut-off of funding for the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the termination of a contract with ICF International have severely hampered collaborative efforts among federal agencies working on climate change matters.
- Despite these disruptions, the Global Change Research Act of 1990 obliges the program to submit the National Climate Assessment to Congress, but the report's future remains murky.
- The sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA6) is of great importance to local, state, and regional officials, providing insights into the impacts and mitigation strategies for climate change on their communities.
- The potential loss or distortion of NCA6 may result in inadequate preparation for climate risks, compromising America's response to extreme weather, wildfire, sea-level rise, and other challenges posed by global warming.
- The ongoing review of the operations and structure of the USGCRP adds to the uncertainty surrounding the fate of NCA6, leaving the nation uncertain about its readiness to face the consequences of climate change.
