Collapsed house surrounded by rubble and wood debris.

U.S. to stop publicly tracking financial toll of billion-dollar climate disasters

The federal government will no longer collect or share data on the financial costs of extreme weather events, a move that scientists and lawmakers say will obscure the growing risks of climate change.

Rebecca Dzombak and Hiroko Tabuchi report for The New York Times.

In short:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced it will stop tallying the costs of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, citing changing priorities and staffing limits.
The move ends a critical public dataset used by scientists, insurers, and policymakers to analyze the economic impact of extreme weather events, which have become more frequent and severe.
From 1980 to 2024, NOAA tracked 403 such disasters; that data will remain archived, but events from 2025 onward — like this year’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires — will no longer be assessed.

Key quote:

“You can’t fix what you don’t measure. If we lose this information about the costs of these disasters, the American people and Congress won’t know what risks climate is posing to our country.”

— Erin Sikorsky, director of The Center for Climate and Security

Why this matters:

As extreme weather events intensify across the United States, the decision to stop tracking their financial cost erases a transparent records of how much climate change is affecting the economy and public health. Climate-driven disasters force cities and states to rebuild, often with taxpayer money, and the cumulative toll can shape budgets, insurance markets, and infrastructure priorities. Without centralized, consistent data, decision-makers lose insight into where help is most needed or how much recurring weather patterns are costing communities. Researchers also rely on this information to study trends and assess long-term vulnerabilities, especially in frontline areas already under stress.

Learn more: EPA plans to dismantle key offices overseeing climate and air pollution regulation

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

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