How Nonprofits Are Bridging the Climate Information Gap After Trump Administration Cuts

On Tuesday, climate scientists shared some important updates about global temperatures and climate trends. They announced that March 2025 was among the hottest Marches recorded, with Arctic sea ice hitting the lowest level in nearly five decades. This trend fits into a larger pattern of warming, previously recognized by government agencies.

However, this briefing had a twist: it was organized by Berkeley Earth, a nonprofit research group. In March, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) decided to stop its regular climate briefings, which have been a standard practice for years. Berkeley Earth’s Chief Scientist, Robert Rohde, expressed concern, stating, “It is unfortunate that NOAA has stepped back, but we want to make sure someone is doing it. We want to fill some of that gap.”

While NOAA will still publish climate data, staffing cuts mean they can’t hold the briefings anymore. The Trump administration’s policies led to the loss of around 800 positions at NOAA, creating uncertainty about the agency’s future. Former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad warned that these cuts could harm public safety and economic stability.

Groups like Berkeley Earth are stepping in to ensure climate information continues to flow despite these changes. They aren’t alone; a nonprofit called Public Citizen recently filed a lawsuit to address the removal of essential public data from government websites. This includes tools that help people understand environmental issues affecting their communities, like pollution and climate change.

Zach Shelley, a Litigation Fellow at Public Citizen, pointed out the value of these tools, saying, “They make it so people can understand the world around them.” The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for instance, had previously offered EJScreen, a tool that provided data on pollution in specific areas, but this has been taken down.

Communities, especially those with low income and people of color, are heavily affected by these changes. Jen Duggan, from the Environmental Integrity Project, noted that removing such resources hides the realities of pollution’s impact on vulnerable neighborhoods.

The crisis over information isn’t limited to the EPA. Various government entities, including the Department of Energy and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have also removed crucial tools that help citizens understand how policies impact their lives. A previous lawsuit involving organic farmers highlighted the importance of access to climate resources for food production.

Experts agree that the ongoing cuts and removal of climate information could weaken community awareness and preparedness regarding environmental threats. The ongoing struggle for transparency emphasizes how essential it is for citizens to stay informed about climate issues.

For more in-depth insights into the importance of transparent climate data, you can read the latest report from the National Academies of Sciences.

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Climate Change,EPA,Trump administration,Environment,Censorship,NOAA,Climate Science,better planet