What's happened
The Biden administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, citing concerns over climate alarmism. Critics warn this move will hinder vital weather and climate research, with widespread condemnation from scientists and policymakers. The decision marks a significant shift in US science policy.
What's behind the headline?
The decision to dismantle NCAR underscores a broader political strategy to reshape climate science funding and messaging. The administration's framing of NCAR as a source of 'climate alarmism' reveals an ideological stance that dismisses scientific consensus. This move risks setting back decades of atmospheric research, including weather forecasting and disaster preparedness. Critics argue that targeting NCAR's 'green new scam' projects is a thinly veiled attempt to undermine climate science under the guise of restructuring. The legal and institutional challenges ahead suggest this will be a protracted conflict, with potential repercussions for US scientific leadership and international credibility. The move also signals a shift towards politicizing scientific institutions, which could influence future research funding and policy decisions. For the public, this decision threatens to reduce the quality and scope of climate and weather prediction, impacting disaster response and environmental understanding. Overall, the move is likely to weaken the US's capacity to address climate change effectively and diminish its role in global atmospheric research.
What the papers say
The New York Times highlights the historical significance of NCAR and the strong scientific condemnation of the move, emphasizing that dismantling the center will 'set back science in this country by decades.' The Independent reports that critics see the decision as an attack on critical research, with some describing it as an 'intellectual war crime.' Ars Technica notes that the administration's framing of NCAR's activities as 'climate alarmism' is a politicized narrative, and many scientists warn that the move will hinder weather and climate research. AP News emphasizes the White House's justification of restructuring to focus on core missions, but scientists and lawmakers see it as an attack on scientific integrity. Overall, the sources present a consensus that the decision is politically motivated and harmful to US scientific progress, with some internal dissent from think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute.
How we got here
NCAR, founded in 1960, has been a leading institution in atmospheric and climate science, providing critical data, research, and technological advances. The Trump administration previously criticized the center as a source of climate alarmism, framing its work as politically motivated. The Biden administration's move to dismantle NCAR reflects ongoing political tensions over climate science and federal research priorities.
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