The move promises to preserve crucial climate research amid political turbulence and underlines the commitment of scientists to address climate change proactively.
**Scientific Leaders Forge Ahead with Climate Report Despite Administration's Withdrawal**
**Scientific Leaders Forge Ahead with Climate Report Despite Administration's Withdrawal**
Two major scientific organizations will proceed with publishing the National Climate Assessment after the Trump administration's dismissal of the original authors.
In a significant turn of events, last week, the Trump administration dismissed nearly 400 authors involved in the National Climate Assessment, a pivotal report that reviews the impact of climate change across the United States. The administration indicated that it was reassessing the report's scope, leaving the future of the assessment uncertain.
In response, two prominent scientific organizations—the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and the American Meteorological Society (AMS)—announced their intention to carry on with the authors' work and publish the assessment as initially planned. Brandon Jones, president of the AGU and a program director at the National Science Foundation, expressed the necessity of this initiative. "We have a responsibility to safeguard our communities against the worsening threats posed by climate change," he asserted. "This collaboration allows researchers to unite and provide essential scientific insights needed for combating climate change."
The National Climate Assessment conducts an exhaustive review of the latest climate science, assessing regional impacts and outlining potential adaptation and mitigation strategies. Since its inception in 2000, five editions have been published, with the sixth edition (NCA6) initially slated for release in early 2028.
The efforts spearheaded by the AGU and AMS will supplement, not replace, the federally mandated report, according to their statement. Meanwhile, the White House has not responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing situation. The dismissal of the NCA6 authors was communicated in an email, citing a review of the report's scope under the Global Change Research Act of 1990, a piece of legislation that had recently seen budget cuts and staffing reductions within the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
This ongoing scenario highlights the friction between governmental policies and scientific endeavors, as researchers remain steadfast in their commitment to addressing the pressing issue of climate change, ensuring that critical data and findings continue to eventually inform public policy and community preparedness.
In response, two prominent scientific organizations—the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and the American Meteorological Society (AMS)—announced their intention to carry on with the authors' work and publish the assessment as initially planned. Brandon Jones, president of the AGU and a program director at the National Science Foundation, expressed the necessity of this initiative. "We have a responsibility to safeguard our communities against the worsening threats posed by climate change," he asserted. "This collaboration allows researchers to unite and provide essential scientific insights needed for combating climate change."
The National Climate Assessment conducts an exhaustive review of the latest climate science, assessing regional impacts and outlining potential adaptation and mitigation strategies. Since its inception in 2000, five editions have been published, with the sixth edition (NCA6) initially slated for release in early 2028.
The efforts spearheaded by the AGU and AMS will supplement, not replace, the federally mandated report, according to their statement. Meanwhile, the White House has not responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing situation. The dismissal of the NCA6 authors was communicated in an email, citing a review of the report's scope under the Global Change Research Act of 1990, a piece of legislation that had recently seen budget cuts and staffing reductions within the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
This ongoing scenario highlights the friction between governmental policies and scientific endeavors, as researchers remain steadfast in their commitment to addressing the pressing issue of climate change, ensuring that critical data and findings continue to eventually inform public policy and community preparedness.
