The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has decided to stop tracking the costs of climate change-related weather disasters such as floods, heat waves, wildfires, and more. This decision is part of a broader trend within the agency and the Trump administration to reduce federal government resources dedicated to climate change. NOAA, which falls under the U.S. Department of Commerce, is responsible for providing daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring, as well as overseeing the National Weather Service.
The agency announced that its National Centers for Environmental Information will no longer update its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database beyond 2024. This database, which dates back to 1980, has historically documented numerous major weather events across the country, including hurricanes, hail storms, droughts, and freezes that have caused trillions of dollars in damage. By drawing information from sources like FEMA, insurance companies, and state agencies, NOAA has been able to estimate the overall losses from individual disasters.
NOAA’s Communications Director Kim Doster stated that this change is in line with shifting priorities, legal mandates, and staffing adjustments. Scientists warn that climate change is leading to more frequent, severe, and costly weather events, such as the recent devastating heatwaves, hurricanes, wildfires, and cold snaps. Understanding the financial impact of these events is crucial, especially as insurance costs rise for communities vulnerable to weather-related disasters.
While other sources like insurance brokers and international disaster databases can provide some data, experts emphasize that NOAA’s database has been the most comprehensive and reliable for evaluating the costs of extreme weather events. The decision to halt updates to this database could hinder efforts to assess how climate change is contributing to rising disaster losses. This move is seen as part of a broader trend within the Trump administration to downplay the role of climate change in extreme weather events and prioritize interests in the fossil fuel industry.
The decision has raised concerns among experts and advocates who argue that ignoring the impact of climate change on weather events could make Americans less safe in the face of escalating disasters. By neglecting to track and analyze these events, there is a risk of underestimating the economic and human toll of climate-related disasters.
The industries linked to climate damage have faced scrutiny in recent studies. The administration’s move represents a blow to the weather, ocean, and fisheries agency. In February, the Trump administration terminated hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal NOAA employees on probationary status as part of efforts to streamline the government workforce. A second round of over 1,000 cuts at the agency followed in March, amounting to more than 10% of its workforce at the time. Critics warned that these massive firings and organizational changes could endanger lives and negatively impact the U.S. economy. Additionally, experts pointed out that reducing vital weather balloon launches under NOAA could lead to poorer weather forecasts in the U.S. Further changes are anticipated for the agency, potentially aligning with proposals outlined in the president’s preliminary budget. Last month, the agency’s weather service briefly halted language translations of its products, only to resume them a few weeks later. For more of AP’s climate coverage, visit http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment. Data journalist Mary Katherine Wildeman contributed from Hartford, Connecticut. Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on Twitter: @alexa_stjohn or reach her at ast.john@ap.org. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental reporting is supported financially by various private foundations, and AP is solely responsible for all content. To learn more about AP’s standards for collaborating with philanthropies, view a list of supporters, and explore funded coverage areas, visit AP.org.
