Federal climate education resource, favored by teachers, faces potential closure by the government
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Program Office-run Climate.gov, a trusted source for climate science information and teaching tools for educators, is facing an uncertain future. The Trump administration's decision to transfer Climate.gov to NOAA.gov has led to a significant reduction in new content updates, raising concerns about the site's potential repurposing into a platform that may promote climate disinformation.
Founded in 2010, Climate.gov has been a valuable free resource for educators, providing accurate and authoritative climate science information. However, due to administrative changes and staffing cuts, including the firing and administrative leave of key personnel like Climate.gov’s lead editor, the site faces the risk of being mothballed or transformed in a way that could undermine its scientific integrity.
The administration's actions align with a wider pattern of skepticism and disinformation about climate science. The proposed budget cuts to NOAA, including the elimination of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research which supports climate and weather research, have contributed to concerns about disseminating reliable climate information and enabling disinformation.
The implications for science education are significant. Educators are losing access to free, authoritative climate science resources, weakening their ability to teach students about climate change accurately. This may foster increased public misunderstanding and skepticism about climate science, making it harder to counteract misinformation in schools and society.
A 2019 study showed that 77 percent of Americans regard it as very or somewhat important for elementary and secondary school students to learn about climate change. Similarly, about 3 in 4 registered voters say schools should teach children about global warming, according to a 2024 report. Yet, few teachers have received training on climate change.
Educators like science teacher Jeff Grant have relied on Climate.gov for lesson plans and educating fellow teachers. Bertha Vazquez, education director for the Center of Inquiry, shares similar concerns, expressing worry that the disappearance of climate information could leave U.S. students behind. Some fear that the site could be transformed into a platform for disinformation.
Textbooks tend to downplay the effects of climate change, making Climate.gov's resources even more crucial for educators. Lau, an educator, feels helpless and frustrated about Climate.gov's shutdown and the "attack on American science in general."
As of June 24, the site's homepage was redirected to NOAA.gov. The future of Climate.gov remains uncertain, but the potential loss of this valuable resource is causing concern among educators and scientists alike.
- The uncertain future of Climate.gov, a trusted source for climate science information and teaching tools for educators, has raised concerns about its potential repurposing into a platform for promoting climate disinformation.
- The proposed budget cuts to NOAA, including the elimination of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, have contributed to concerns about the dissemination of reliable climate information and the enablement of disinformation.
- The implications for science education are significant, with educators losing access to free, authoritative climate science resources, weakening their ability to teach students about climate change accurately.
- The future of Clime.gov's education-and-self-development resources and its impact on environmental-science learning remains uncertain, causing concern among educators and scientists.
- Policymakers need to consider the importance of climate science education in policy-and-legislation, as a 2019 study showed that 77 percent of Americans regard it as very or somewhat important for elementary and secondary school students to learn about climate change.
