The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wanted to create a National Climate Service similar to the agency's National Weather Service in order to meet "skyrocketing" demand for climate information. Even though the agency said it would shuffle existing staff and didn't ask for any additional funds, Republican members of Congress "barred NOAA from launching what the agency bills as a 'one-stop shop' for climate information," reports Brian Vastag of The Washington Post.
Vastag reports that over one year, the amount of climate data obtained from NOAA's website increased by 86 percent. Calls to the agency about climate information rose by 4,000 over the same period. But even the word "climate" can be polarizing one, drawing ire from Republican representatives like Andy Harris, who said in June: "Our hesitation is that the climate service could become little propaganda sources instead of a science source." Rep. Ralph Hall, chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, launched an investigation of NOAA, saying they were "operating 'a shadow climate service operation' without congressional approval," even though NOAA's climate data has been public for decades.
Vastag reports that over one year, the amount of climate data obtained from NOAA's website increased by 86 percent. Calls to the agency about climate information rose by 4,000 over the same period. But even the word "climate" can be polarizing one, drawing ire from Republican representatives like Andy Harris, who said in June: "Our hesitation is that the climate service could become little propaganda sources instead of a science source." Rep. Ralph Hall, chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, launched an investigation of NOAA, saying they were "operating 'a shadow climate service operation' without congressional approval," even though NOAA's climate data has been public for decades.
The idea of a climate service has received much support from scientific, weather and industry groups, Vastag reports, along with insurance companies, who use climate information to set rates. They've realized what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is expected to say in a report today: "Climate change is likely to cause more storms, floods, droughts, heatwaves and other extreme weather events." Flona Harvey of The Guardian reports that the IPCC has conducted "the most authoritative review yet of the effects of global warming."
The Democratic-led Senate approved most of the climate service in its budget, but the Republican-led House approved none of it. A news release from the House Appropriations Committee "implied Congress saved $322 million" by not allowing the climate service. But as Vastag reports, NOAA will still receive that amount for climate research, just not under "an umbrella climate service." (Read more)
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