National Academies to fast-track a new climate assessment

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have announced an expedited review of the latest climate science, aiming to influence the Trump administration's proposed repeal of the 2009 determination that links greenhouse gas emissions to harm to human health and the environment. This independent assessment, which the Academies will self-fund, marks a significant shift from their usual practice of responding to requests from government bodies or Congress. Scheduled for public release in September, the review is intended to guide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its decision regarding the controversial 'endangerment finding.' Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences, emphasized the importance of grounding federal policy in the best available scientific evidence. She stated, "Decades of climate research have enhanced our understanding of how greenhouse gases impact our climate. This fresh examination aims to present the latest insights to policymakers and the public." As private, nonprofit entities established under a congressional charter in 1863, the National Academies have the mission of providing independent, objective analysis to inform public policy. The Trump administration's recent announcement to rescind the endangerment finding threatens to undermine critical federal actions aimed at regulating carbon emissions from vehicles and power plants under the Clean Air Act. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has indicated a desire to dismantle climate regulations put in place by the previous administration, and the repeal of the endangerment finding would assist in this effort. The administration's proposal relies on a narrow interpretation of legal authority and raises questions about the scientific basis for such a decision, particularly citing a report from the Department of Energy authored by a select group of climate change skeptics. With only 30 days for public feedback on the endangerment finding proposal, the National Academies’ timely review has garnered support from critics of the administration's stance. Bob Sussman, a former deputy administrator of the EPA, welcomed the Academies' initiative, noting the critical need for independent expertise to clarify the scientific consensus on climate change. Historically, the National Academies have conducted various studies on climate-related issues, including workforce development for climate resilience and sustainable AI practices. They recently announced the establishment of a rapid response capacity to address emerging scientific policy issues in the nation, with their inaugural project focusing on avian influenza diagnostics. Andrew Dessler, director at Texas A&M University’s Center for Extreme Weather, believes the controversy surrounding climate science initiated by the Trump administration is an appropriate subject for this expedited review. He remarked, "This is precisely what the National Academies were designed to do—to provide answers to scientifically significant questions posed by the government." Dessler is coordinating a collective scientific response to the DOE report, anticipating input from around 70 academics after a call for participation on social media. While his effort will focus on the scientific evidence surrounding the harms of greenhouse gas emissions, the National Academies' review will examine developments since the endangerment finding was adopted in 2009.