Ashley Siefert Nunes
WASHINGTON—Authors of the Sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA6)—a quadrennial report mandated by Congress since 1990—were disbanded today by the Trump administration with a notice that the assessment is being “reevaluated.” This follows the mass firing of staff at the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) earlier this month. Such a move at this point in the process of drafting a compressive scientific report, often exceeding 1,000 pages and developed by 13 federal agencies and hundreds of external scientists and experts, puts the report in jeopardy. It indicates the threat of a compromised scientific process and could even place the report at risk of being illegally cancelled altogether.
Below is a statement by Dr. Rachel Cleetus, a senior policy director for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and an NCA6 report author on the coasts chapter.
“Today, the Trump administration senselessly took a hatchet to a crucial and comprehensive U.S. climate science report by dismissing its authors without cause or a plan. People around the nation rely on the NCA to understand how climate change is impacting their daily lives already and what to expect in the future. While not policy prescriptive, the findings of previous reports underscore the importance of cutting heat-trapping emissions and investing in climate resilience to protect communities and the economy. Trying to bury this report won’t alter the scientific facts one bit but without this information our country risks flying blind into a world made more dangerous by human-caused climate change. The only beneficiaries of disrupting or killing this report are the fossil fuel industry and those intent on boosting oil and gas profits at the expense of people’s health and the nation’s economic well-being. Congress must step up to ensure the report it requires by law is conducted with scientific integrity and delivered in a timely way.”
Below is the email text Dr. Cleetus and other NCA6 authors received from the administration regarding their participation:
“Thank you for your participation in the 6th National Climate Assessment. At this time, the scope of the NCA6 is currently being reevaluated in accordance with the Global Change Research Act of 1990. We are now releasing all current assessment participants from their roles. As plans develop for the assessment, there may be future opportunities to contribute or engage. Thank you for your service.”
Please contact UCS Climate and Energy Media Manager Ashley Siefert Nunes to speak to Dr. Cleetus or another UCS scientist, including Drs. Brenda Ekwurzel and Melissa Finucane, both previous NCA report authors.