--- [ CLIMATE ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=14) # Fired Climate Scientists Set Up Climate.us to Carry On NOAA’s Mission Written by Liz Amsden. ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/94/058f-9449b9fd.png) July 23 2026 [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) [Comments](#disqus_thread) ACCORDING TO LIZ - Hundreds of former NOAA employees laid off last year have started a website – [Climate.us](http://climate.us/) – to continue their work in climate science and weather forecasting. Theirs is now the go-to climate information website following the shuttering of NOAA’s [Climate.gov](http://climate.gov/) site in the wake of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government (in)Efficiency’s slash-and-burn of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Up until then, NOAA was the world’s premier scientific agency for climate, weather and ocean monitoring. Now… Visitors to [Climate.gov](http://climate.gov/) are still being advised: “UPDATED: June 24, 2025. In compliance with Executive Order 14303 (“Restoring Gold Standard Science”), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s June 23, 2025 Memorandum,… you have been redirected to [NOAA.gov](http://noaa.gov/). Future research products previously housed under [Climate.gov](http://climate.gov/) will be available at [NOAA.gov/climate](http://noaa.gov/climate) and its affiliate websites.” Except they weren’t. Or, at least, not in an accessible manner. NOAA used to give $100 million worth of information to the country’s governments, to help farmers plan and individuals to best prepare for incoming inclement weather. In Los Angeles, it predicted floods and droughts and monitored the coast for dangers from tidal waves to tornadoes and high surf warnings for SoCal beaches as well as the menace of fire weather and post-fire mudslides. It alerted northern Californians to inclement winter weather and subsequent spring runoffs. Free and publicly-available weather data ensures that all people and businesses and, most importantly, emergency responders have immediate access to pending changes to weather conditions, and potential threats to life and property. Rural and urban communities across the country are dependent on accurate information for public safety preparedness. Creating a prepared, resilient nation depends on connecting forecasts to the life-saving decisions that allow communities to withstand them. Tracking ocean and climate changes around the globe contributes to long term models of future systematic changes and elements that scientists use to evaluate the intensity of meteorological events and provide the basis for weather advisory watches and warnings. NOAA’s technology still can provide data needed by the American public and weather studies worldwide. But not if it’s not easily accessible. This government has been chipping away at weather services, from reductions in meteorological balloons and a dangerous lack of experienced hurricane season evaluators as severe summer storms mount to the recent removal of high-tech data-collection buoys that measure sea-surface temperatures, currents and changes in ocean chemistry due to carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants. These are critical to tracking ocean conditions off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Gutting these essential services to pay for the administration’s commitments to foreign wars, tax breaks, and the ICE-incarceration industry is grossly detrimental to Americans and science around the world. While NOAA may still provide much of the what – although it’s unclear to what extent “quiet discontinuation” by the administration’s cuts is affecting the quality and quantity of data collected - without the formally robust [Climate.gov](http://climate.gov/), there was no how to get the information out to those it served. Prior to its shuttering, [Climate.gov](http://climate.gov/) was the globally-respected source for climate data with nearly a million hits a month, utilized by scientists around the world. Rebecca Lindsey, a former [Climate.gov](http://climate.gov/) program director and one of the 880 NOAA staff laid off in the Trump-and-Musk carnage quickly realized the depth of this grand betrayal. She joined with two other ex-NOAA employees who had shared her fate to restore the superlative quality of the original, rebranded as a new website – [Climate.us](http://climate.us/), climate info for all of us. Its establishment is a proactive step to mitigate the loss of expertise and services in critical previously-government areas. Lindsey’s core team’s knowledge of the workings of NOAA with its still publicly available, if somewhat squirreled away climate data, plus $280,000 in crowdsourced funding, laid the groundwork. They recruited volunteers, including 80 scientists to serve on the group's science panel and to act as fact-checkers. Their goal: to continue working climate science and weather forecasting to ensure critical climate information – research, resources, and services – is collected and made available to scientists and the public who need or use them. To a certain extent, constructing the new site was straightforward. However, a key technical obstacle remained – creating a cost-effective and proficient search engine to handle the immense quantity of data in all its permutations without the unlimited finances afforded favored government agencies. Which has pushed it to run smarter and leaner. There is discussion within [Climate.us](http://climate.us/) about whether the site's role will be solely to safeguard climate information until it can be safely returned to government stewardship, or whether it should remain an independent resource. “The fact that they got rid of it so easily is proof that we shouldn't make it vulnerable again.” While there’s merit in keeping important functions out of politicians’ hands, costs for operating an organization that is still so enmeshed in government-funded data, costs to cover overhead, workers comp and other insurances, equipment, and storage, ancillary research for needed knowledge even with access to NOAA databases, to continuously maintain and upgrade the search abilities, and provide investors with some profit… may prove daunting. In short, all the difficulties of transitioning from a government agency to the private sector where market dynamics apply along with a plethora of regulations and potential lawsuits. [Climate.us](http://climate.us/) offers services focused on climate research, weather forecasting, and data analysis to fill the gaps left by the layoffs at NOAA, services crucial for improving the accuracy of weather predictions and, by extension, addressing global warming and supporting climate adaptation efforts. All of which benefit from integration with a host of other government agencies. An essential element of climate action is public education and understanding. [Climate.gov](http://climate.gov/) was a critical resource not only for raw data, but also for context and analysis. It's not just the what but why it matters and how it affects their lives and futures, public safety and the country’s economic stability. [Climate.gov](http://climate.gov/) was of significant importance because of its accuracy, lack of bias, and easy-to-understand information. Its removal has made it harder for the public – and politicians – in addition to other users of NOAA data to access trustworthy climate change information. [Climate.us](http://climate.us/) re-creates the original government website’s climate dashboard which contained more than a dozen key graphs related to climate change as well as a 15-year collection of climate news and stories, technically-accurate blogs, visual status reports on key climate indicators, maps and data pathways, climate literacy resources, classroom materials and more. Lindsey says the editorial philosophy of [Climate.us](http://climate.us/) will remain – just the facts. Not telling Americans “what to do about climate change… but explaining science and showing people what the data show.” A website of people, for people, by people. ***(Liz Amsden** is a former Angeleno now living in Vermont and a regular CityWatch contributor. She writes on issues she’s passionate about, including social justice, government accountability, and community empowerment. Liz brings a sharp, activist voice to her commentary and continues to engage with Los Angeles civic affairs from afar. She can be reached at ****.)* [![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/) ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Email [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/34/065h-34e1b43b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395) ### [Reminder to the Red States, Turnabout is Fair Play](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395) GELFAND’S WORLD - Indiana has been pounded by rains that resulted in widespread flooding. While the rain was still comi… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) ### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d0/065o-d02f23ac.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378) ### [California’s Empty Classrooms Are a Warning Sacramento Can’t Ignore](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378) A STUDENT'S VIEW - California is spending more on public education, yet classrooms are emptying, campuses are closing… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) ### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fe/064i-febc3c1a.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33203:all-talk-no-action-nithya-ramans-reckoning&catid=401) ### [All Talk, No Action: Nithya Raman’s Reckoning](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33203:all-talk-no-action-nithya-ramans-reckoning&catid=401) THE BOTTOM LINE - Nithya Raman lost the homelessness gavel, and the most damaging verdict didn’t come from Republicans… --- ## [ CLIMATE ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=14) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/056i.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33044:purveyors-of-pollution-and-escalation-of-global-warming&catid=14)### [Purveyors of Pollution and Escalation of Global Warming](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33044:purveyors-of-pollution-and-escalation-of-global-warming&catid=14) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/052d.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32969:plastic-free-july-angelenos-invited-to-help-protect-beaches-rivers-and-the-pacific&catid=14)### [Plastic Free July: Angelenos Invited to Help Protect Beaches, Rivers and the Pacific](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32969:plastic-free-july-angelenos-invited-to-help-protect-beaches-rivers-and-the-pacific&catid=14) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/042c.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32783:residential-hvac-decisions-in-lake-forest-climate-efficiency-and-long-term-home-performance&catid=14)### [Residential HVAC Decisions in Lake Forest: Climate, Efficiency, and Long-Term Home Performance](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32783:residential-hvac-decisions-in-lake-forest-climate-efficiency-and-long-term-home-performance&catid=14) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2026/016n.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32321:what-positive-impact-could-ai-have-on-the-climate-in-la&catid=14)### [What Positive Impact Could AI Have on the Climate in LA?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32321:what-positive-impact-could-ai-have-on-the-climate-in-la&catid=14) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Jan-2026/003v.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32086:las-coming-cooling-mandate-what-the-82-degree-rule-means-for-rental-properties&catid=14)### [LA's Coming Cooling Mandate: What the 82-Degree Rule Means for Rental Properties](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32086:las-coming-cooling-mandate-what-the-82-degree-rule-means-for-rental-properties&catid=14)