The Trump administration's decision to take down Climate.gov, a vital resource for climate data and information, was a significant setback for climate research and awareness. However, a group of former NOAA employees, led by Rebecca Lindsey, refused to let the site disappear. They joined forces to rebuild the site, preserving over 15 years of climate data and resources [1]. The new site, Climate.us, is a testament to the power of open data and community-driven initiatives.

As Ben Werdmuller notes, 'US government data is public domain by law' [2], which allowed the team to recreate the site without relying on government funding. The site features a range of resources, including a climate dashboard, educational materials, and a dataset gallery [3]. The dataset gallery includes crucial information, such as the NOAA's archive of oral histories from people whose lives were affected by climate change [4]. The site's creation is a significant achievement, demonstrating the importance of keeping scientific information publicly available, regardless of political changes [5].

The project also highlights the risks of relying on government funding for critical resources, as the site's original takedown demonstrates [6]. In the face of declining trust in media, communities are part of the solution, and initiatives like Climate.us show that people can come together to preserve and promote critical information [7]. As the site's managing director, Rebecca Lindsey, notes, 'the whole thing relies on donations to keep it afloat' [8], highlighting the need for sustainable funding models for community-driven initiatives.

Sources

  1. https://19thnews.org/2026/07/noaa-climate-data-website/
  2. https://werd.io/climate-gov-was-destroyed-open-data-saved-it/
  3. https://www.climate.us/
  4. https://www.climate.us/maps-data/dataset/noaa-voices-oral-history-archives
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/23/climate/noaa-climate-science-data-website.html
  6. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48897945
  7. https://werd.io/notable-links-july-10-2026/
  8. https://www.climate.us/about/