A collection of buildings with antennas built on black lava rocks at the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawai'i.

Key climate research office may close amid federal cost-cutting

A federal cost-cutting initiative may shut down the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) office that manages Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory, a critical site for tracking atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Austyn Gaffney reports for The New York Times.

In short:

The Mauna Loa Observatory, which has monitored rising greenhouse gas levels since 1958, could lose its managing office in Hilo, Hawaii, by August due to lease terminations.
The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has proposed ending 793 federal leases, including at least 19 NOAA properties, to save about $500 million.
NOAA is also facing staffing reductions, with 1,300 workers already laid off and another 1,000 cuts planned, impacting climate data accessibility.

Key quote:

“These data are our eyes on the planet. It’s really vital base line data for how things are going to change going forward.”

— Ralph Keeling, climate scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego

Why this matters:

The Mauna Loa Observatory, perched high on the slope of Hawaii’s largest volcano, has served as a critical sentinel for climate science since 1958. It is home to the world’s longest-running measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide, providing the foundation for understanding the role of greenhouse gases in climate change. But now, amid a broader push to rein in federal spending, its future appears uncertain.

With climate change fueling more extreme weather events, a reduction in federal support for climate research could also hinder disaster preparedness and long-term policy decisions. Scientists and policymakers rely on NOAA’s data to predict hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires — events that are becoming more frequent and severe. Without sustained investment in monitoring and research, the ability to understand and respond to climate-related crises could be severely compromised.

The debate over NOAA’s funding is unfolding as climate science remains a politically charged issue. While some lawmakers argue that fiscal discipline is necessary, others warn that cutting climate research now could carry long-term costs, both economic and environmental. For those tracking the Earth’s climate, the potential loss of Mauna Loa’s data would be more than just a setback; it would be a blind spot at a time when clarity is needed most.

Learn more: NOAA layoffs threaten U.S. leadership in ocean science

www.nytimes.com

electric vehicle EV charging at a charging station.

Credit: Haberdoedas/Unsplash

New Trump administration rule weakens efforts to promote cleaner cars

The Trump administration just threw a wrench into Biden’s fuel efficiency plans, publishing a new rule that challenges how electric vehicles factor into federal standards.

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.

In short:

The U.S. Transportation Department issued a rule saying the Biden administration improperly used electric vehicles to calculate carmakers’ fuel economy standards.
While not eliminating Biden’s rules outright, the administration suggested it may not enforce them during its own rulemaking process, arguing the current standards are akin to an EV mandate.
The move undercuts one of Biden’s core climate strategies and could reduce pressure on automakers to improve efficiency — unless U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules, which Republicans are also trying to reverse, stay intact.

Why this matters:

Fuel efficiency rules are one of the federal government’s main tools to cut transportation emissions — the top source of greenhouse gases in the U.S. While this new rule doesn’t outright kill the fuel economy standards, it signals the administration likely won’t enforce them while it writes its own version.

Read the Full Article on

thehill.com

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