Teachers scramble as climate data vanishes from federal websites

Teachers Face Challenges as Climate Data Disappears from Government Sites

Amid the removal of climate-related information from federal websites under the Trump administration, educators are seeking solutions to adapt their lesson plans. Fortunately, a volunteer group is stepping up to archive and restore the missing data.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Since the beginning of President Trump’s tenure, some climate data has vanished from federal agency platforms, causing concern among scientists and educators alike. Maine Public Radio’s Molly Enking reveals how teachers are navigating these changes and the initiatives in place to support them.

In Bar Harbor, Maine, Ruth Poland’s advanced environmental science students engage with hands-on projects like building terrariums to understand nutrient cycling. However, Poland faces challenges in her lesson planning.

Poland explains her predicament: “This is, like, the energy infrastructure map, but there’s stuff missing. Like, they won’t have the carbon emissions associated with those anymore. That sort of stuff. And I’m worried that this won’t be available into the future.”

Margaret Wang, leading SubjectToClimate, a nonprofit aiding educators with climate change lesson plans, notes the widespread removal of critical resources. Her team is actively working to update and replace missing links in their materials.

Wang acknowledges the frustration teachers feel when encountering these obstacles: “That might be the point where you decide – you know what? – I’m just not going to teach about it.”

Among those impacted is Lourdes Vera, an assistant professor at the University of Buffalo, who has seen valuable EPA tools disappear. These tools helped her illustrate environmental impacts on marginalized communities. Yet, thanks to the Public Environmental Data Partners, many such tools have been revived.

Vera shares, “During the first Trump administration that we really could build that infrastructure and create those lists of URLs to track. So, you know, we’re not starting from scratch now. We’ve been building this for eight years.”

Educators are becoming more aware of these restored resources, says Wang, noting the efforts of nonprofits to maintain access to crucial information.

Poland emphasizes the ongoing demand for climate education: “Students ask to learn about climate change because they know that they’re going to have to deal with it and they’re curious about what’s going on. They want to know the truth.”

While the Department of Energy and NOAA have not commented, the EPA stated it is aligning its priorities with President Trump’s directives.

For NPR News in Portland, Maine, I’m Molly Enking.