Trump Administration Ends Funding for Arctic Climate Report

Why it matters locally: Maine, with its extensive coastline and reliance on ocean-dependent industries like fishing and tourism, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and altered marine ecosystems that research like the Arctic Report Card helps to track.

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WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has discontinued funding for the Arctic Report Card, a long-established initiative collecting research on the Arctic region. The Arctic Report Card documents changes in the area, which researchers identify as the fastest-warming place on Earth. William Brangham spoke with glaciologist Twila Moon, the editor of the Arctic Report Card, regarding the funding cessation. This decision by the administration affects a specific scientific research effort. The Arctic Report Card has served as a consistent source of data on environmental shifts within the Arctic. Its funding termination represents an administrative action concerning scientific research.