DistantNews
Support us
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Environment & Climate

Trump administration withdraws support for annual Arctic environmental report

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The Trump administration has withdrawn support for NOAA's annual Arctic Report Card, a key environmental assessment.
  • The report, ongoing since 2006, tracks changes in the Arctic's atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere, and tundra, which is warming four times faster than the global average.
  • Scientists are working to ensure the report's continuation beyond 2026, citing the region's critical role in national security and global climate.

The Trump administration has ended its support for the annual Arctic Report Card, a vital publication that has tracked environmental changes in the rapidly warming region since 2006. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed its withdrawal of support, stating it would no longer facilitate the report's coordination.

Coordination of the 2026 Arctic Report Card will not be facilitated through NOAA … All data historically contributed by NOAA to the product will continue to be collected and will remain publicly available.

— Kim DosterNOAA communications director explaining the agency's withdrawal of support for the Arctic Report Card.

Despite the cut in federal backing, NOAA communications director Kim Doster assured that data collected by the agency for the report would remain publicly available. Doster also emphasized that other NOAA programs would continue to support Arctic research crucial for national security, weather prediction, navigation safety, and coastal economies.

The Arctic Report Card is a peer-reviewed assessment detailing critical shifts in the Arctic's atmosphere, oceans, ice, and land. The region is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet, experiencing severe sea ice loss, carbon sink reversals, and ecosystem disruptions. Recent reports highlighted record-warm surface temperatures and the lowest annual maximum sea ice extent in the satellite record.

We are scrambling to pull the pieces together. I am optimistic that we can find a path forward for 2027 and beyond. Given the late date, whether we can pull it together for 2026 is an open question, but we’re trying to make it happen.

— Rick ThomanLead editor for the Arctic Report Card discussing efforts to continue the report's publication.

Scientists involved in the report are actively seeking ways to continue its publication. Rick Thoman, the report's lead editor, expressed optimism about finding a path forward for 2027 and beyond, though the timeline for the 2026 report remains uncertain. Twila Moon, another editor, stressed the U.S. is an Arctic nation and the report's findings are vital for understanding national interests in the region.

The US is an Arctic nation. It’s not just a distant place. It’s also our national place. So many

— Twila MoonAn editor of the Arctic Report Card and scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, emphasizing the U.S. stake in the Arctic.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog