Now that we’re mid-year into President Trump’s second term, it’s clear that his administration is changing how environmental data is shared online. Reports indicate that around 70% more federal website changes occurred in his first 100 days this term compared to his initial entry into office in 2017.
A watchdog group, the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI), is closely monitoring this situation. They’ve found significant removals of critical public resources. This time, federal agencies appear to be more aggressive in deleting information about communities disproportionately affected by pollution. Not only have they removed key reports on climate change, but they’ve also replaced factual content with misleading information.
According to Gretchen Gehrke, one of the authors of the EDGI report, when data is suppressed, it allows for twisted narratives. She explains, “You can say anything you want to say if you remove evidence to the contrary.”
This administration has already recorded 632 important changes to federal websites during its first 100 days, a stark increase from the 371 changes made in the same period in 2017. Notably, EDGI only tracked about 20% of the websites they monitored previously, focusing on those most at risk of change.
Many of the changes revolve around significant topics like climate change. For instance, terms like “climate change” are being swapped for phrases like “extreme weather,” and entire webpages are disappearing.
One glaring loss has been the Environmental Protection Agency’s EJScreen mapping tool. This tool was designed to show how different populations are impacted by air pollution and health hazards. By mid-February, numerous resources related to environmental justice had been wiped from public access.
The control of information is not just limited to climate data. EDGI highlighted a disturbing pattern where facts about environmental inequality are being erased. As Gehrke pointed out, this erasure is alarming as it hides systemic issues like environmental racism.
Recent studies indicate that groups such as Hispanic and Latino communities are more vulnerable to climate change effects. A 2021 EPA report shows that these populations are around 50% more likely to live in areas that will suffer severe flooding due to rising sea levels.
In the larger context, scientists are voicing concerns after the administration removed crucial national climate assessments, resources that detail how climate change affects various U.S. regions. While the EPA’s climate change website remains operational, staffing changes raise questions about the future of accessible information.
The Trump administration’s approach has ignited worry not just among climate scientists but the general public as well. There are ongoing legal battles aiming to restore access to key climate-related resources. Groups like the Sierra Club are pushing for the reinstatement of important tools like EJScreen, emphasizing the public’s right to access information vital for understanding environmental health disparities.
Moreover, the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine offers a glimmer of hope by allowing access to previously available data. Efforts are underway from various organizations to make archived information available to the public.
In a world where knowledge can shape action, the stakes are high. As climate conditions worsen and inequalities persist, transparent access to information is more essential than ever.
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Analysis,Climate,Environment,Policy,Politics,Regulation,Report,Science
