The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced it will stop tracking the costs of climate change-driven weather disasters, such as floods, heat waves, and wildfires. This decision is the latest in a series of changes under the Trump administration aimed at limiting federal resources dedicated to addressing climate change.
NOAA, an agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce, is responsible for daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring. It also oversees the National Weather Service.
The agency confirmed that its National Centers for Environmental Information would no longer update its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database beyond 2024, and that the data, which goes back as far as 1980, would be archived. For decades, this database has tracked hundreds of major weather events across the United States, including hurricanes, hailstorms, droughts, and freezes, which have caused trillions of dollars in damage.
This database uniquely sources data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), insurance organizations, state agencies, and more to estimate the overall losses from individual disasters.
In February the administration dismissed hundreds of probationary NOAA employees
Kim Doster, NOAA Communications Director, explained in a statement that the decision was “in alignment with evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes,” reports AP.
Scientists have warned that weather events are becoming more frequent, severe, and costly due to climate change. Experts have linked the increased intensity of recent events like the debilitating heat waves, Hurricane Milton, wildfires in Southern California, and cold snaps to the effects of a warming planet.
As insurance premiums rise, particularly in areas vulnerable to flooding, storms, and fires, understanding the impact of weather events intensified by climate change is crucial. The insurance industry has been heavily affected by climate change, and homeowners face the threat of rising rates.
This decision comes as part of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to reduce references to climate change and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions in federal documents.
Additionally, this move is a continuation of cuts to NOAA under the Trump administration. In February, the administration dismissed hundreds of probationary NOAA employees, according to Reuters, as part of a broader government downsizing initiative spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
