The American Geophysical Union and American Meteorological Society have published the first paper in the US Climate Collection, an effort to compile peer-reviewed research to replace the work that would have gone into the next US National Climate Assessment, which was terminated last year by the Trump administration.
Last year, the Trump administration shut down work on the next US National Climate Assessment, eliminating funding for the US Global Change Research Program and removing hundreds of contributing authors. Past reports were taken offline, forcing others to host copies so the information remained accessible—despite the fact that these reports are legally required.
In response, the American Geophysical Union and American Meteorological Society announced the US Climate Collection, which operates differently from the traditional process of writing a single coordinated report. Instead, the groups invite teams of researchers to publish peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals, which are then added to a centralized resource for future report-writers.
The first paper has now been added to that collection. Authored by 149 researchers—many of whom had been working on the terminated US report—it has been published simultaneously in journals operated by both societies. The paper is intended to provide a roadmap to prioritize future contributions to the collection.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Fills a critical gap in climate information needed for policy and planning at local, state, and federal levels.
- Demonstrates the scientific community's ability to self-organize when government processes are halted.
- Highlights ongoing political tension over climate science and the legal requirement for national climate assessments.
Background
The National Climate Assessment is a legally mandated report that summarizes climate impacts, risks, and responses across the United States. Last year, the Trump administration eliminated funding for the US Global Change Research Program and removed hundreds of contributing authors, effectively terminating work on the next assessment. Past reports were also taken down from government websites. The US Climate Collection, launched by the American Geophysical Union and American Meteorological Society, offers a decentralized alternative: peer-reviewed papers published in scientific journals, gathered in one place for future synthesis.
Key Perspectives
Researchers and climate scientists: Many of the authors who had been contributing to the cancelled assessment have now published their work through the US Climate Collection, ensuring that their research remains available and usable. The first paper provides a roadmap, reflecting the community's desire to continue the work.
The Trump administration: The administration's decision to terminate the assessment and remove past reports was based on its broader approach to climate policy. No justification was provided in the available sources.
Critics of the termination: Observers note that the assessment is legally required, and the termination undermines the official scientific process. The US Climate Collection, while a useful substitute, is not the same as a government-coordinated national report.
What to Watch
- Whether additional papers are added to the collection at a steady pace, indicating sustained community engagement.
- How future administrations or Congress respond—whether they restore the formal assessment process or adopt the collection as an alternative.
- Whether the collection influences international climate assessments or collaborations, such as the IPCC.