The Trump administration has ceased U.S. scientists’ participation in U.N. climate change assessments, reflecting a broader withdrawal from climate initiatives. This stop-work order affects members of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, preventing U.S. attendance at an upcoming IPCC plenary meeting in Hangzhou, China. The absence raises concerns about shared global conclusions on climate mitigation. Although American scientists will still contribute to climate research, the lack of U.S. involvement in the IPCC process will impact future assessments. Experts note this withdrawal aligns with Trump’s previous moves to distance the U.S. from international climate commitments.
Washington:
The Trump administration has halted the involvement of U.S. scientists in critical U.N. climate change evaluations, as reported by two sources familiar with the matter to Reuters. This action is part of a broader withdrawal from efforts to mitigate climate change and engage in multilateral cooperation.
The stop-work directive impacts employees from the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who interact with a vital working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
This decision means the U.S. will not be participating in a significant IPCC plenary meeting scheduled in Hangzhou, China, next week, which is set to outline the seventh global climate assessment, according to one source.
The White House has not provided any comments, and the State Department has not responded to requests for comment.
“The strength of the IPCC lies in its ability for governments, businesses, and global institutions to operate based on shared conclusions. The U.S. being entirely removed from that process is troubling,” stated Delta Merner from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Although American scientists will still be present and will continue contributing to climate research utilized by the IPCC, the absence of U.S. input in the IPCC process will have noticeable consequences.
The Hangzhou meeting taking place from February 24-28 is expected to make essential decisions that will influence the outcomes of the forthcoming climate assessment, particularly regarding carbon removal and capture technologies.
China’s foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday that it was unaware of the U.S. withdrawal from participation.
The U.S. serves as a co-chair along with Malaysia of a working group focused on climate mitigation, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, the U.S. had committed approximately $1.5 million to support the IPCC; however, that funding has not yet been approved by Congress.
The withdrawal of the U.S. from the IPCC does not come as a shock to climate scientists, especially considering President Donald Trump’s previous actions to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement, reduce U.S. global climate funding, and sever international climate partnerships.
“This aligns with Trump’s indications regarding climate action,” remarked Kathryn Bowen, a professor at Melbourne University and a lead author on the IPCC’s sixth assessment report released last year.
She noted that the reduction in federal support occurs amidst declining funding for climate science worldwide.
“Regrettably, there has been a gradual decline in funding support for authors involved in the IPCC process over the past few years,” Bowen explained. “High-income countries are seen as crucial sources of funding for colleagues from the Global South.”
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