U.S. Administration Details Climate Policy Shifts and Research Reorganization Amid International Summit

The U.S. administration has outlined shifts in its domestic climate policies and proposed a reorganization of a national atmospheric research center. These actions precede the United Nations' COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, which the U.S. will not attend with high-level officials. The policy changes include withdrawing from international agreements, revising environmental regulations, and reducing support for renewable energy and climate science, drawing responses from scientific organizations and political figures.

U.S. Participation and Stance on International Climate Summit

The United Nations' annual climate summit, COP30, is scheduled to commence on Monday in Belém, Brazil, and is expected to last approximately two weeks. The White House has confirmed to NPR that the United States will not have high-level officials attending COP30 this year, marking a change from previous U.S. participation at such summits.

In January, the U.S. administration withdrew from the 2015 Paris Agreement, which established a goal for signatory nations to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, with an ideal target of less than 1.5 C (2.7 F). A White House spokesperson stated, "President Trump will not jeopardize our country's economic and national security to pursue vague climate goals that are killing other countries." The administration has previously characterized global warming mitigation efforts as a "hoax."

A recent U.N. climate report indicates the planet is projected to warm approximately 2.8 C (5 F) above preindustrial levels by 2100. The report also estimates that a discontinuation of all U.S. climate efforts could contribute an additional 0.1 C to global warming.

Domestic Climate Policy Revisions

The administration has initiated several policy changes related to climate.

• Review of Climate Pollution Policies:

  • In March, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced intentions to review over two dozen rules and policies, describing the action as a significant deregulation effort.
  • A central aspect of the strategy involves seeking to reverse the "endangerment finding" from 2009, which classified carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as a danger to public health and welfare and serves as a legal basis for numerous U.S. climate policies.
  • In July, the EPA under the current administration contended that present U.S. climate pollution levels are not causing harm to people and therefore do not require regulation in the manner established by courts and prior administrations.

• Power Plant Emission Limits:

  • In June, the administration disclosed plans to repeal existing limits on greenhouse gas emissions and other airborne pollutants from fossil fuel-fired power plants. If enacted, this proposal would remove controls on what has been identified as the second-largest source of climate pollution in the U.S., after transportation.
  • The administration stated that U.S. coal and gas-fired power plants account for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a decrease from 5.5% in 2005, and suggested that further reductions would offer minimal public health benefits. Historically, the U.S. has been responsible for nearly a quarter of the climate pollution currently in the atmosphere.

• Support for Renewable Energy:

  • Initiatives are being advanced to expand areas for oil and gas exploration on U.S. land and in its oceans.
  • Federal support for wind and solar industries, which the administration has characterized as risky and unreliable, has been reduced.
  • A new spending law has concluded federal tax incentives for wind and solar, impacting projects. Over $13 billion in funds for green energy projects were withdrawn, and efforts were made to suspend offshore wind projects.
  • BloombergNEF data indicated a 36% decrease in U.S. renewable investment in the first half of 2025.
  • Subsidies for consumers acquiring technologies such as rooftop solar, efficient heat pumps, and electric vehicles are being modified. A $7 billion grant program for local solar projects was terminated. Federal incentives for rooftop solar, heat pumps, and insulation are scheduled to conclude on December 31, and tax credits for electric vehicles ended on September 30.

• Climate-Preparedness Grants:

  • Grants for various climate and environmental initiatives nationwide have been terminated, affecting diverse energy projects including transmission lines and carbon capture research.

• Climate Science and Data Funding:

  • Federal engagement with climate science and scientists has been modified.
  • The National Climate Assessment was affected, with individuals involved in the next edition reassigned in April, and the federal website hosting the most recent edition becoming unavailable in July.
  • Funding for climate science research at agencies including NOAA, NASA, and USDA was reduced. Data collection efforts and datasets, such as NOAA's Billion Dollar Disaster analysis, which tracked financial costs of disasters, were impacted, with the database discontinued in May.

• Disaster Relief and Preparedness:

  • Federal support for disaster relief and preparedness initiatives has been reduced.

Proposed Reorganization of Climate Research Centers

The White House has announced a plan to reorganize the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. Russ Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), stated on social media that NCAR was considered "one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country." Vought indicated the center was undergoing a "comprehensive review" and that "vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location." A White House statement added that NCAR's activities were deemed to "veer far from strong or useful science" and that the center was being reorganized "to eliminate Green New Scam research activities."

This initiative follows previous actions by the administration, including statements classifying climate change as a hoax, reductions in funding for climate research, and the reassignment of climate and weather scientists within the federal government. The administration's 2026 budget plan proposed a 27% cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) budget, the elimination of its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and rolling back National Science Foundation funding for climate science.

Scientific Community Response

Antonio Busalacchi, head of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), which oversees NCAR, reported no prior notification of the announcement and characterized the decision as "political." Busalacchi stated that NCAR's mandate is to study both climate and weather, asserting that these two fields cannot be understood in isolation. He also noted NCAR's role is to present scientific findings without engaging in advocacy or policy recommendations.

NCAR, founded over six decades ago, provides universities with expertise and resources for collaborative research on global weather, water, and climate challenges, employing approximately 830 people. Its contributions include developing dropsondes, assisting in wind shear monitoring at airports, and developing and maintaining the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) and the Community Earth System Model (CESM). David Stensrud, President of the American Meteorological Society, stated that losing NCAR's capabilities would hinder future improvements in weather prediction. Jason Furtado, an associate professor of meteorology at the University of Oklahoma, described NCAR as "a world-envied research center for atmospheric science." Ken Davis, a professor at Penn State, highlighted NCAR's role in providing computing resources, observational facilities, and expertise. Scientists involved in NCAR's work indicate that a closure would not immediately impact weather forecasting but would gradually diminish the scientific community's ability to advance understanding of weather and climate, potentially increasing risks to lives and property.

Impact on Climate and Weather Science

Federal funding reductions pose a risk to ongoing research concerning atmospheric phenomena such as the jet stream and polar vortex. Many scientists in this field are employed by federal agencies like NASA and NOAA, or work at federally supported institutions like NCAR.

The connection between global warming and changes in the jet stream is an active area of scientific inquiry. Some studies suggest that human-caused climate change might contribute to increased waviness in the jet stream, potentially leading to more frequent or widespread severe winter weather in the continental U.S. Other research indicates that jet stream waviness may occur naturally, independent of climate change. Accurate prediction of jet stream behavior is vital for broader weather forecasting, impacting logistics, shipping, urban planning, infrastructure development, and disaster preparedness.

Political Opposition

Colorado Governor Jared Polis stated that if the plan to reorganize NCAR proceeds, "public safety is at risk and science is being attacked." Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), and U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper referred to the administration's plan as "deeply dangerous and blatantly retaliatory." They linked the proposed reorganization to Colorado's refusal to release a former Mesa County clerk, Tina Peters, who was pardoned by President Trump but is serving a state-level prison sentence for illegally accessing voting machines.