Climate Data Vanishes: What Happened and Why It Matters

The Trump administration has taken down a crucial federal website that housed important climate science reports. These reports, known as National Climate Assessments, were designed to help people understand and prepare for climate change. With the website gone, access to these vital reports has become significantly harder.

Scientists React with Concern

Climate scientists are outraged by this decision. They argue that these reports are essential for making informed decisions about climate risks, such as floods and wildfires. One former official stated that this move "silences scientists" and "blinds decision-makers." Another scientist accused the administration of "suppressing the science of human-caused climate change."

Reports Still Available but Hard to Find

While the reports still exist, they are now buried deep within other websites or accessible only through special archives. Some scientists have taken the initiative to save copies of the reports and share them on their own platforms.

A Pattern of Targeting Climate Science

This is not the first time the Trump administration has targeted climate science. In the past, they removed the head of the program responsible for creating these reports. They also recently fired the scientists working on the next report, citing a "re-evaluation" of its scope.

Administration's Justification

The administration has defended these actions by claiming they aim to use "Gold Standard Science." They assert that previous administrations presented science in a "highly misleading manner." Critics, however, argue that these moves are merely attempts to downplay the severity of climate change.