The Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle a leading US climate research centre in Colorado, labelling its work as 'alarmism'. The move has sparked fierce condemnation from scientists and local officials who warn it endangers public safety.
A 'Crown Jewel' of Science Targeted
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, is set to be broken up under the supervision of the National Science Foundation. Russell Vought, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, confirmed the decision in a social media post on 13 July 2016, calling the facility "one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country."
He stated that a comprehensive review was underway and any vital activities, such as weather research, would be relocated. The centre's Mesa Laboratory in Boulder is slated for closure.
Fierce Backlash from Experts and Officials
The announcement was met with immediate criticism. Roger Pielke Jr., a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, described NCAR as "a crown jewel of the US scientific enterprise" that should be improved, not shut down. He warned the US could not afford "petty and vindictive decisions" based on the politics of climate change.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a stark warning, stating the move puts "public safety at risk." He emphasised that NCAR's work extends far beyond climate science, providing critical data on severe weather events like fires and floods that saves lives and property.
The centre, which employs roughly 830 staff, operates two research aircraft and manages a government supercomputing facility in Wyoming. Its research includes advances in understanding weather patterns and tropical cyclones.
Part of a Broader Climate-Sceptic Agenda
This decision aligns with President Donald Trump's frequent dismissal of climate change as a "hoax." The administration has vowed to eliminate what it terms "green new scam research activities."
According to reports, the White House has criticised NCAR for pursuing a "woke direction," specifically naming projects like the Rising Voices Center for Indigenous and Earth Sciences, which aims to make sciences more inclusive, and research into wind turbines.
This action follows a proposed 30% funding cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which would slash spending on climate, weather, and ocean laboratories crucial for forecasting and understanding weather patterns.
The dismantling of NCAR represents a significant escalation in the administration's efforts to roll back federal climate science research, raising profound concerns about the future of US leadership in atmospheric sciences and emergency preparedness.
