Climate Scientists Protest Federal Research Funding Cuts Nationwide

Climate scientists are facing significant challenges due to funding cuts under the Trump administration, which have impacted federal agencies like NOAA, NASA, and the Department of Energy, as well as led to staff reductions and the cancellation of NASA's lease at Columbia University. In response, scientists have launched a 100-hour livestream event to engage the public and demonstrate the value of climate and weather research, aiming to raise awareness about the consequences of these budget cuts. Meanwhile, studies reveal that public trust in climate scientists is generally lower than for other scientists worldwide, with trust gaps varying across countries, which poses a barrier to effective climate policy implementation. European researchers emphasize the importance of social factors and public support in climate policy, warning that a too narrow focus on technology and economics risks losing public backing and stalling crucial innovations like carbon capture and storage. Additionally, with federal cuts limiting official climate reporting, scientific organizations such as the American Geophysical Union and American Meteorological Society are stepping in to provide alternative platforms to disseminate vital climate research to the public and policymakers. These developments underscore the growing tension between scientific communication, public trust, and political decisions affecting climate science funding and policy.