Former NOAA scientists launch Climate.us with restored climate data
Three former NOAA scientists launched Climate.us to restore public access to climate data after the Trump administration shut down Climate.gov, which previously drew nearly a million monthly visitors.
Former NOAA scientists have rebuilt a vital climate data site that the Trump administration shut down last year. A trio of laid-off NOAA employees lau
Read Full Story at NPR News →Why This Matters
The revival of Climate.us by former NOAA scientists underscores a critical tension in U.S. climate policy: the privatization of public science. While the Trump administration framed the shutdown of Climate.gov as bureaucratic streamlining, this move effectively siloed institutional knowledge, making it vulnerable to political interference. The reopening of access through an independent platform highlights how scientific integrity can outlast institutional shifts when driven by expertise and public demand.
Background Context
Climate.gov, launched under NOAA in 2010, became a cornerstone of federal climate communication, offering accessible data to policymakers, journalists, and the public. Its shutdown in 2017 aligned with a broader pattern of federal agencies deprioritizing climate research during the Trump administration, including the removal of climate change pages from EPA and USGS websites. The timing also coincided with a wave of federal budget cuts that disproportionately targeted environmental science programs.
What Happens Next
The success of Climate.us may pressure federal agencies to reassess their data dissemination strategies, particularly as climate crises demand real-time public access. However, its long-term sustainability hinges on funding and institutional support—challenges that could force the platform to compete with commercial climate services. Observers should watch whether other shuttered federal climate resources face similar revival efforts or if this becomes an isolated case of scientific defiance.
Bigger Picture
This development reflects a growing trend of scientists and researchers circumventing institutional barriers to preserve critical public resources, a phenomenon seen in other fields like healthcare and education. It also mirrors the broader erosion of trust in government data during the 2010s, which has since fueled demands for transparency and alternative knowledge networks. As climate risks intensify, the need for reliable, non-partisan data will only grow, making such independent platforms increasingly vital.
