Firings at US #weather and #oceans agency risk lives and economy, former agency heads warn

By SETH BORENSTEIN
Updated 9:48 AM EST, March 1, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — "The federal weather and oceans agency touches people’s daily lives in unnoticed ways, so massive firings there will likely cause needless deaths and a big hit to America’s economy, according to the people who ran it.

"The first round of firings started Thursday at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a government agency that monitors the oceans, the atmosphere where storms roam and space, and puts out hundreds of 'products' daily. Those products generally save lives and money, experts say.

"#NOAA’s 301 billion weather forecasts every year reach 96% of American households.

The firings are 'going to affect safety of flight, safety of shipping, safety of everyday Americans,' Admiral Tim Gallaudet told The Associated Press Friday. President Donald Trump appointed Gallaudet as acting NOAA chief during his last administration. 'Lives are at risk for sure.'

"Former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad agreed.

"'We’re getting into prime #tornado time. We’re getting into #planting season for the agricultural season for the bread belt,' Spinrad said. 'It’s going to affect safety. It’s going to affect the economy.'"

https://apnews.com/article/noaa-doge-federal-cuts-musk-weather-danger-6f60e7c511989aeff8930ae87c9a5ee8
#USPol #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #PolyCrisis #HungerGames #FoodInsecurity #WeatherForecasts #ExtremeWeather #Safety #Spaceweather #SolarFlares #ClimateScientists #OceanWarming #Oceanographers

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/02/opinion/texas-wildfires-climate-change.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare “What is happening in #NorthAmerica is not a regional aberration; it’s part of a global departure, what #ClimateScientists call a #PhaseShift. The past year has seen virtually every metric of planetary distress lurch into uncharted territory: sea surface temperature, air temperature, polar ice loss, fire intensity — you name it, it is off the charts” #ClimateEmergency

Chris Skidmore, a former Conservative energy minister, resigned as an MP in protest at the #OffshorePetroleumLicensingBill, to be debated in the Commons on Monday.
The bill will establish a new system under which licences for oil and gas projects in the North Sea will be awarded annually.
The latest #IPCCreport makes it clear no new fossil fuel projects can be opened, so doing so goes against the recommendations of most of the world’s leading #ClimateScientists.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/05/chris-skidmore-resigns-conservative-whip-over-sunaks-oil-and-gas-licence-plan

A message from the #ClimateActivists for #ClimateScientists:

"Ask yourselves this:
If the current rise in temperature doesn't slow down at a sufficient pace, what will you do differently"

#ClimateScientists actually mean what they say.

Refusing to fly has lost me my job as a climate researcher. It’s a price worth paying | Gianluca #Grimalda | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/12/fly-climate-breakdown-germany-climate-change-papua-new-guinea

@WakingKellyWalker

Hi Kelly,

welcome to the #Fediverse.
With your ambitious goals, I think you've come to the right place, as the scientific community is particularly strong here.
E.g., most of the #ClimateScientists have migrated here from the #BorgSite, also known as the #DeadBirdSite.

Things here work differently, so you might find these things useful to enjoy your presence here:

https://mastodon.social/@HistoPol/109960697083138864

#Wildfires, #hurricanes and #heat: The U.S. is getting hit by #extremeweather from all sides
#ClimateScientists say it’s an all-too-real look at how #globalwarming increases the risks — and consequences — of the deadly events. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/wildfires-hurricanes-heat-extreme-weather-bombards-us-rcna100950 #ClimateCrisis

@peterdutoit i think what #climatescientists should do now is a #greatresignation. Stop communicating completely, some may (and have already) consider a career change. As we all know, it’s #jobdone for them and there’s nothing left to say. In fact keeping on talking is detrimental to #climateaction, as it is used by #fossilfuels lobbies to keep on talking and do nothing. I think urgent action is now in #resilience, #community-led lofi #engineering solutions.

#ClimateScientists #Academics: Rupert Read’s #ClimateMajority project is publishing a letter today, already signed by Peter Kalmus, James Dyke and others (I just signed it, too), asking governments to start being more honest about where we are at. You can sign it here:

#ClimateEmergency #ClimateAction

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeS8Lix-RrOYU8WsySsyDjhYiV0jRooP2Ue0zWhpL-lW2pKbA/viewform

https://mastodon.online/@mastodonmigration/110424885633752082
It’s #followfriday for #climatescientists.

New report out from #GlobalWitness on the abuse received by #ClimateScientists

#GlobalHating

https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/digital-threats/global-hating/

Took a quick look at the #Birdsite. I have been tagged into a conversation between 4 climate deniers, throwing mud, a science journalist and a valiant colleague.

Not missing that place much at all but now wondering if all the #ClimateScientists leaving there is really a good idea..?