Fired Climate Scientists Launch Site to Share Trusted Data

When the federal government shut down access to trusted climate data, the scientists who built it refused to let 15 years of research vanish into the political void.

Former staffers from NOAA's climate.gov have launched climate.us, a non-profit platform that went fully active this week. The new site mirrors the original government resource that researchers, journalists, and even insurance companies relied on for accurate climate information.

Rebecca Lindsey, the site's managing director, put it simply. "Trusted climate information should not disappear when politics change," she said in a statement.

The original climate.gov website was effectively hidden last year when the Trump administration redirected its web address and fired nearly all its staff. Years of crucial climate and weather data became almost impossible for the public to find.

But scientists are nothing if not determined. Over 2,500 donors have already contributed around $250,000 to fund the resurrection of this vital resource. The platform now hosts raw climate data, illustrated reports, government climate assessments, and accessible articles explaining what it all means.

What makes this effort even more impressive is the brain trust behind it. Some 80 scientists and subject matter experts have volunteered to review content and ensure the same high standards that made the original site so valuable.

The Ripple Effect

This rescue mission matters far beyond the scientific community. Teachers preparing lesson plans, city planners designing infrastructure, farmers making crop decisions, and families choosing where to live all depend on accurate climate information.

Insurance companies use this data to calculate risk and set rates. Journalists rely on it to report accurately on extreme weather events. Emergency managers need it to prepare communities for disasters.

By making this information freely available again, climate.us ensures that critical decisions affecting millions of people can still be based on solid science rather than political winds.

Richard Spinrad, former NOAA administrator, captured the significance perfectly. The new platform will "ensure the legacy of providing essential data products and services is sustained, even in the face of political manipulation of the scientific enterprise."

When expertise meets determination, progress finds a way forward.