U.S. Halts Tracking of Financial Impacts of Extreme Weather Events

A new policy shift from the U.S. government threatens the tracking of extreme weather costs, heralding potential obstacles for future climate research and disaster preparedness.

In a surprising turn of events, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced it will discontinue its tracking of major disasters causing damages of $1 billion or more. Starting this year, this decision will impede the ability of insurers, researchers, and policymakers to analyze the frequency and economic impacts of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires—phenomena that are escalating in severity as global temperatures rise.

This policy marks yet another effort by the current administration to limit research on climate issues, following recent cuts proposed to major climate science budgets across several federal agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey. Critics, including Jesse M. Keenan, a professor specializing in climate change at Tulane University, condemned the cessation of data collection, arguing that it significantly undermines local and federal efforts to budget and invest in necessary infrastructure to address these disasters. “The U.S. government’s flying blind as to the cost of extreme weather and climate change,” Keenan stated.

The decision has attracted widespread backlash from lawmakers and climate advocates. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) expressed his outrage on social media, labeling the action as “anti-science, anti-safety, and anti-American.” Stakeholders are left voicing their fear that without critical data, understanding disaster trends and implementing effective responses will become considerably more difficult, further jeopardizing both economic stability and public safety in the face of forthcoming climate challenges.