Federal site serving as a resource for climate education facing potential closure by the government
The Trump administration's decision to shut down the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s climate website, GlobalChange.gov, has raised concerns about the future of climate education in the United States. Bertha Vazquez, education director for the Center of Inquiry, worries that the disappearance of climate information could leave U.S. students behind.
The closure of GlobalChange.gov removed extensive scientific information about how climate change is affecting the U.S. from public access. The website hosted congressionally mandated climate change reports, including all editions of the National Climate Assessment. The administration also canceled funding for the program responsible for compiling these reports, hindering the preparation for worsening climate impacts like droughts, floods, and heat waves.
This move has major implications for science education by limiting public and educational access to authoritative, federally sourced climate data and analyses, which serve as key resources for teaching climate science and informing policy discussions. Scientists have condemned this as scientific censorship and likened it to "book burning."
The Trump administration's actions extend beyond the closure of GlobalChange.gov. They have cut budgets for scientific agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), resulting in the elimination of ecosystem-related climate research programs critical for understanding and adapting to climate change.
The administration has also pursued regulatory rollbacks on greenhouse gas emissions and climate protections, often arguing legal rather than scientific rationales to undo climate policy, further undermining evidence-based climate education.
Moreover, the administration declined to publish or delayed federally mandated climate reports on NASA and other agency websites, making timely scientific assessments less accessible.
As a result, the availability of credible government climate science information has been reduced, hindering the ability of educational institutions to provide accurate, updated climate science content based on the latest federal research. This creates obstacles to preparing future generations for climate challenges through informed science education.
The closure of Climate.gov, another important resource for climate education, further exacerbates these issues. Climate.gov will no longer produce new content, and former employees and educators fear that the site could be transformed into a platform for disinformation. All 10 editorial contributors to Climate.gov have lost their jobs since early May.
The organization that produces Climate.gov’s education resources will soon run out of money, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice toolkit was taken down earlier this year. These developments come at a time when there is growing public support for climate education. A 2019 study found that 77 percent of Americans regard it as very or somewhat important for elementary and secondary school students to learn about climate change.
However, few teachers have received training on climate change, and studies suggest that textbooks tend to downplay the effects of climate change. This leaves many science teachers relying on federal tools for climate education, such as those provided by GlobalChange.gov and Climate.gov.
The lack of accessible, authoritative climate information could have significant consequences for the future of climate education in the U.S. Teachers like Jeff Grant, who have used these resources to educate students about climate change, are concerned about the Trump administration's dismantling of these federal websites.
Studies suggest that a greater understanding of climate change among young people can reduce anxiety about it. However, the current situation could lead to confusion and misinformation, making it more difficult for future generations to confront the challenges posed by climate change.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact climate education in the U.S. and whether future administrations will prioritize climate science education and research.
- The disappearance of climate information on GlobalChange.gov raises concerns about the future of climate education in the United States, particularly for U.S. students who rely on this authoritative federal source for education.
- The closure of GlobalChange.gov and possible transformation of Climate.gov into a platform for disinformation could lead to an increased prevalence of misinformation in climate education, hindering the ability of future generations to confront climate change.
- The lack of accessible, authoritative climate information could exacerbate inequalities in education by limiting resources available for science teachers to educate students about climate change effectively.
- The Trump administration's decisions to close climate-related websites, cut funding for scientific agencies, and pursue regulatory rollbacks on greenhouse gas emissions and climate protections question the importance placed on evidence-based science education and self-development.
- Policymakers and legislators play a crucial role in ensuring the availability of accurate, updated climate science information for educational institutions to provide an informed foundation for climate education and learning, as general news coverage and public support for climate education grows.
