The federal government is ending its support for the Arctic Report Card. This annual publication, which has tracked environmental changes in the Arctic for two decades, will no longer be facilitated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA has informed the scientific team behind the report that agency assistance will cease immediately, meaning the report will not be published as a technical document under the organization’s name this year.
The Arctic Report Card serves as a significant resource for climate scientists and policymakers. It provides detailed observations on the region, including data on sea ice, regional wildlife, and shifting environmental conditions. The Arctic is currently warming at three times the speed of the rest of the planet, making the monitoring provided by this report essential for national security discussions and international research efforts.
While NOAA will continue to collect raw data, the agency will no longer host the report online or manage the official press rollout for the findings. The current team of authors is now tasked with finding a path forward to publish the 21st edition of the report independently. Agency representatives did not provide a specific reason for the withdrawal of support, according to reports from people familiar with the matter.
This decision is part of a wider trend involving the current administration and its approach to federal climate programs. Recent actions include the closure of databases regarding billion-dollar disasters and the removal of staff from the National Climate Assessment. As official support for these climate resources diminishes, the public and the scientific community are left to rely on alternative methods for accessing information that was once standard government documentation.