Concerns regarding the future of weather and climate research in the US have been raised by the Trump administration's suggestions of possible changes at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This action is a part of the administration's larger plan to overhaul how federal agencies handle climate change.
The Role of NOAA
NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is a research and regulatory organization. Its missions are to protect and manage marine and coastal ecosystems and resources, forecast and understand changes in the climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, and share all of this information with others.
NOAA's work is essential for making accurate weather forecasts, monitoring marine and atmospheric conditions, and performing deep-sea research. The organization is also heavily involved in fishery management, marine mammal protection, and endangered species protection.
Trump Administration's Approach to Climate Change
The Trump administration's actions since taking office have been criticized for undermining climate change efforts. The United States' decision to leave the Paris Agreement, a historic global agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions, was one of the most noteworthy actions. This decision raised questions about the U.S. commitment to addressing climate change and signified a turn away from international collaboration on climate issues.
The administration has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and repealed a number of environmental laws intended to reduce emissions from automobiles and power plants. The administration contends that increasing the production of fossil fuels is essential for both economic expansion and energy independence, and these rollbacks are a part of that larger objective.
Potential Changes at NOAA
This larger plan includes the possible changes at NOAA. Trump administration officials have hinted that they would try to redirect the agency's priorities from climate research to other fields like ocean exploration and weather forecasting. This change may significantly affect the agency's capacity to track and address climate change.
Reducing NOAA's emphasis on climate science, according to critics, could make it more difficult to understand and reduce the effects of climate change. To forecast extreme weather events, like hurricanes and heatwaves, which are growing more often and intense because of climate change, NOAA's climate research is crucial. Without this study, communities could not be as ready for these occurrences, which could result in a higher death toll and property damage.
The Importance of NOAA's Work
The work of NOAA is essential to preserving public safety and promoting economic expansion. Farmers plan their crops, fishermen navigate the seas, and emergency management get ready for disasters with the aid of accurate weather forecasts. As businesses and policymakers make future plans, NOAA's climate research also offers vital information.
For instance, NOAA's study on ocean acidification informs efforts to safeguard marine ecosystems, and its data on sea level rise helps coastal communities prepare for erosion and flooding. The Trump administration runs the risk of undercutting these crucial initiatives by decreasing the agency's emphasis on climate research.
Conclusion
The Trump administration's larger plan to restructure federal agencies and their response to climate change includes the possible changes at NOAA. Experts caution that these changes could jeopardize attempts to address the risks of climate change, despite the administration's claims that they are essential for economic growth and energy independence. As the discussion goes on, it is critical to acknowledge the critical role NOAA's climate and weather research plays in preserving public safety and promoting economic development.
This is very scary to think about considering Trump has already pulled us out of the Paris agreement. Like you said in your blog post Trump‘s larger plans are very, very scary to think about.
ReplyDeleteI look at the weather forecast every day to consider the precautions I need to take in order to keep my half-dead, elderly rescue horse alive. I would be in trouble if the weather forecast wasn't predictable and allowed me to help her stay warm or cool during Michigan's already unpredictable weather.
ReplyDeleteWow, NOAA plays such a crucial role in climate and weather research, and the potential shift in its focus is concerning. Without proper climate research, communities will be left vulnerable to future environmental threats.
ReplyDeleteThe NOAA is such an important organization that is vital to the safety and success of so many people. This news is especially concerning knowing that extreme weather events are likely to increase with climate change and accurate weather predictions will be invaluable to protect vulnerable communities.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like we moving in the wrong direction. Trying to move from the problem climate change by ignoring it. Defunding and leaving organizations that our monitoring it.
ReplyDeleteI've also seen rumors (that could well be untrue, keep in mind) that there's also been proposals to privatize weather forecasting and relegate that duty to for-profit companies. That would especially harm local news stations and smaller companies, who may depend on the freely available data sent out by NOAA to make their own forecasts.
ReplyDeleteBetween that and the proposed changes at NOAA, I wonder just how accurate our predictions will be going forward, and how many lives are put at risk because of such changes.
It makes me wonder why he would want to revoke all of these plans and agreements, and just overall ignore the problems instead of allowing us to face them. His whole thing was making America great again, but it might've been a lie.
ReplyDeleteRecently Trump's decisions have been nothing but questionable with the tariffs he has placed to Make America great again even though tariffs were used in the 18 hundreds and had a different economy. At this point, if feels like Trump's new phrase should be with great power comes no responsibility.
DeleteThe potential changes to NOAA under the Trump administration, which aim to shift the agency's focus away from climate research, pose significant risks to understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change, ultimately jeopardizing public safety and economic stability in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
ReplyDeleteEveryday I want to cry out of frustration, helplessness, anger, and too many more emotions to count. All I can say is that it is not fair. We did not ask for this and the environment with all its beautiful living things did not ask for this. Making changes to something so vital to the environment is signing our death certificate.
ReplyDeleteWithout accurate up to date information regarding weather events and weather trends, many of us would be in the dark. To prepare large cities from mass destruction due to hurricanes, they must know weeks in advance what might happen to their beloved home. Researchers model what might happen in the future due to climate change, and must be well funded to provide that for us. Funding to NOAA is not in vain, and I hope many will advocate for full restoration of its climate change initiatives.
ReplyDeleteIt is so frustrating to watch all of these changes and attempted changes take place, especially when the climate crisis is worse than it has ever been. It is hard to watch the Trump administration try to make so many detrimental changes.
ReplyDeleteHey Cooper, great post! NOAA’s work is so important—shifting focus from climate science seems risky. Do you think we can balance economic growth with climate research? Curious to hear your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI'm not the original post author but- I think it would be possible to make climate research and mitigation economic. With a combination of subsidies, job training and growth, and responsible implementation, climate science could give a needed boost to our economies.
DeleteBesides, I guess we either spend the hefty amounts of money now to reduce damages in the future, or we save the money only to see that uncontained climate change is far more costly in the coming decades. But! Again, I think climate science could help the economy too, with the right support.
It is so awful how one administration's actions has such a terrible impact on the entire planet. It is terrifying considering the impacts of all of these executive orders.
ReplyDeleteThis, combined with the removal of data and research from governmental agencies like the CDC is an obvious attempt to distance the general public from accessing information so they can push their backwards policies.
ReplyDeleteIt is completely contradictive as an elected official to steer away from implementing necessary climate action. Especially with the idea in mind to redirect the focus of NOAA on ocean exploration and weather reporting, when it is clear that reducing the effects of the climate crisis will sustain these fields dramatically so the priorities here do not make sense.
ReplyDeleteTrump has only been causing more problems and issues since he started office. Thinking about how he pulled out of the agreement act for change and now pressuring Indonesia like we discussed in class. This is a bully in the office.
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