Trump energy chief’s review of climate reports sparks backlash from scientists
The Trump administration’s plan to “update” the nation’s premier climate assessments is drawing fierce pushback from researchers who say it risks replacing established science with misinformation.
Mark Oliver reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former oil and gas executive, said the administration is reviewing past National Climate Assessment reports and will release “updated” versions with comments.
- The Department of Energy recently published a report downplaying the climate crisis, which scientists labeled a “farce” containing misinformation.
- Critics, including climate scientist Michael Mann and the Union of Concerned Scientists, warned that altering these congressionally mandated reports could mislead the public and weaken climate policy.
Key quote:
"Secretary Wright just confirmed our worst fears – that this administration plans to not just bury the scientific evidence but replace it with outright lies to downplay the worsening climate crisis and evade responsibility for addressing it.”
— Dr. Rachel Cleetus, policy director, Union of Concerned Scientists
Why this matters:
National Climate Assessment reports inform critical decisions about public health, agriculture, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness. These assessments synthesize decades of peer-reviewed research on how rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns affect food supplies, water availability, and air quality. Undermining their credibility could erode the trust that communities, businesses, and policymakers rely on when responding to climate-related threats. Without accurate, science-based assessments, Americans may be left unprepared for intensifying heatwaves, storms, wildfires, and flooding.
Read more: Climate change data is being erased from U.S. government websites under Trump
