Scientific societies to do climate assessment after Trump administration dismissals
Two leading U.S. scientific societies have announced a joint initiative to publish peer-reviewed research on the impacts of the climate crisis, following the Trump administration’s abrupt dismissal of hundreds of contributors to a key federal climate report.
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the American Geophysical Union (AGU) said Friday they will collaborate to produce over 29 peer-reviewed journals addressing various aspects of climate change—ranging from observations and projections to risks, impacts, and potential solutions.
This effort follows the administration’s removal of all contributors to the sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA), the government’s primary report on climate preparedness, which had been scheduled for release in 2028. Nearly 400 contributors were dismissed, casting uncertainty over the NCA’s future. The report had been coordinated by the NASA-supported Global Change Research Program, a consortium of 14 federal agencies, which was also disbanded by the administration last month.
In their joint statement, AMS and AGU emphasized the importance of continuing the momentum of the NCA. While their new initiative won’t replace the NCA, it will provide an ongoing platform for critical climate research to move forward.
AGU President Brandon Jones stated, “It’s incumbent on us to ensure our communities, neighbors, and children are protected and prepared for the growing risks of climate change.” AMS President David Stensrud echoed this, noting that “our economy, health, and society all depend on climate. This effort is vital to support and expand collaborative scientific work for the benefit of the U.S. and the world.”
Katharine Hayhoe, a Texas Tech climate scientist and former lead author on previous NCA reports, called the collaboration “a testament to how important it is that the latest science be summarized and available.” She highlighted how climate change affects everyday decisions, such as infrastructure planning and responses to extreme weather.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has not only halted federal climate assessments but also purged government websites of climate-related information, further stalling progress on climate science and preparedness.
