The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce responsible for weather forecasting, storm warnings, and climate monitoring, has decided to discontinue tracking the financial impact of climate change-related weather disasters such as floods, heatwaves, and wildfires. This decision reflects broader changes within the agency and the Trump administration’s reduced emphasis on climate change within federal government operations.
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information will no longer update its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database beyond 2024. This database, which has been collecting data since 1980 on significant weather events like hurricanes, hail storms, droughts, and freezes, has served as a valuable resource in estimating the total economic losses resulting from these disasters. The agency’s decision has drawn criticism from scientists and experts who highlight the increasing frequency and severity of weather events driven by climate change.
The move to halt updates to the database aligns with evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes within NOAA, according to Communications Director Kim Doster. The decision may impact insurance premiums in communities vulnerable to extreme weather events and poses challenges for understanding the true costs of climate change-induced disasters.
While alternative sources of weather event data exist, experts emphasize that NOAA’s database has been considered the gold standard for evaluating the financial toll of extreme weather. With climate change exacerbating disaster losses, the absence of updated information may hinder efforts to comprehend the full extent of climate-related impacts on communities and economies.
Critics argue that the decision to curtail tracking of climate change-fueled disasters diminishes public awareness of the urgency to address climate change and its consequences. The move is seen as part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to downplay climate change concerns and prioritize the interests of industries that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, the decision to cease updating NOAA’s disaster database raises concerns about the ability to accurately assess and respond to the escalating risks posed by climate change-induced extreme weather events.
The industries linked to climate damage have been a focus of recent studies. The administration’s actions have impacted the weather, ocean, and fisheries agency, including the firing of hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal NOAA employees in February. This was part of efforts to downsize the federal government workforce under the Department of Government Efficiency. Subsequent rounds of cuts have been made, with experts warning of potential risks to lives and the U.S. economy due to reduced weather forecasting capabilities. Further changes to the agency are expected, possibly in line with the president’s preliminary budget proposals. Additionally, the agency temporarily halted language translations of its products, but later resumed this service. For more climate coverage from AP, visit http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment.
