EPA Website Removes Climate Science Site From Public View

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency charged with protecting the US environment, has removed climate science from its website after 20 years of being open to the public. The removal of climate change-related information marks an alarming trend of anti-science actions taken by the Trump Administration. Scott Pruitt, the new head of the EPA and a climate denier, seems to have approved of these changes along with a dramatic change in messaging about the mission of the EPA. 

Originally, one could find "information pertaining to the science of global warming; current and projected impacts of global warming; international and US Government policies and programs; opportunities for individuals and corporations to help stop global warming (and in many cases, save money, too!); state and local actions that help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions; and, easy ways to obtain more information by fax, email and electronic order form” on the US EPA website. But as of this past week, no longer. Although previous conservative administrations had made changes to or reviewed new information to go up on the site, the removal of scientific context to this extent is fairly unprecedented. Neither does it seem that employees at the agency were notified of the changes being made.

This move marks one more dangerous step in the direction of scientific repression, and a commitment by the Trump Administration to double-down on climate denialism. Not only is the US in no position to lead on issues of climate, but it may not even be able to hold its status in the scientific community if other websites go the way of the EPA climate site.