US Climate Data Deletion Tracker

US Climate Data Deletion Tracker

Key climate websites and tools have gone offline. This tracker shows what was removed, why it matters, and where to find archived copies. It is built to save you time and help protect scientific integrity.

Open the tool: Searchable Data Tracker (beta)

Quick summary

• The first half of 2025 was the costliest on record for U.S. weather and climate disasters, according to coverage of Climate Central analysis. At the same time, major U.S. climate data sites and tools were taken down or stopped updating.
• NPR reports that climate.gov stopped publishing after its staff was terminated. The National Climate Assessment went offline with no clear public handoff.
• Eos says NOAA retired several tools, including the widely used Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters product.
• EDF cites thousands of web pages and datasets removed, affecting farmers, planners, and public health.
• Our aim: create a single, reliable place to track deleted climate data and link to archives or alternatives.

What data was removed?

Below are notable removals or disruptions. Use our tracker to search by agency, date, or topic.

• NOAA climate.gov shutdown: NPR reports the site stopped publishing after staff cuts.
• National Climate Assessment offline: PBS notes the congressionally mandated reports disappeared from public sites, with unclear access for local planners and the public.
• NOAA Billion-Dollar Disasters tool retired: Eos confirms retirement of the tool tracking extreme event costs.
• Ocean monitoring datasets scheduled for removal: BBC reports on NOAA lists planning early-May removals.
• Global change research coordination reduced: Reporting and policy trackers cite cuts to the U.S. Global Change Research Program and related office support.
• Broad website and dataset takedowns: EDF and summaries describe thousands of datasets removed or altered across agencies.

Why this matters

• Scientists: Deleted climate data breaks long-term records needed for trend analysis and peer review. Without continuous, verified series, results can be weaker.
• City and state planners: Taking the National Climate Assessment offline makes it harder to plan for heat, flood, and sea-level rise.
• Farmers: EDF reports USDA tools for climate risk and crop resilience went missing, which limits drought and planting decisions.
• Journalists and the public: Less access means less accountability. NPR notes website removals and changes reduce transparency.

How to find deleted climate datasets (fast)

1. Check our tracker first: Open the searchable tracker. Filter by agency (NOAA, EPA, USDA), dataset type, or status (removed, retired, offline, archived).
2. Use trusted archives: The Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI) guide lists archived datasets and partner repositories. It also points to community mirrors and research backups.
3. Find alternatives: When NOAA’s Billion-Dollar Disasters ended, Climate Central began publishing updated figures. Use these when federal sources are down.
4. Verify with multiple sources: Cross-check a removed page against PBS analysis, NPR reporting, and BBC coverage to confirm status.
5. Document your source chain: Keep the original URL, the archived link, and a note on date/status. This supports peer review and editorial standards.

Tracker highlights (ItemList)

1. NOAA Billion-Dollar Disasters — Retired; see Eos report. Alternative: Climate Central updates.
2. National Climate Assessment — Reports offline per PBS; government said content would move, but details were unclear at time of reporting.
3. climate.gov — Stopped publishing after staff terminations (NPR).
4. Ocean monitoring datasets — Scheduled removals noted by BBC.
5. Global change research coordination — Funding and staffing cuts summarized in rollback trackers and news coverage.

Table: Key removals and where to look

Dataset/Website	Agency	Status	Reported by	Where to look
Billion-Dollar Disasters	NOAA	Retired	Eos	Climate Central alternative
National Climate Assessment	USGCRP	Offline	PBS	Check EDGI archive guide
climate.gov	NOAA	Stopped updates	NPR	Archived copies via EDGI guide
Ocean monitoring sets	NOAA	Scheduled removals	BBC	Mirror data where available; contact research partners

Method: how we build the tracker

We combine public reports, watchdog lists, and expert input to document deletions, changes, and alternatives.

• Source scanning: We monitor PBS, NPR, BBC, news coverage, and rollback trackers.
• Cross-reference: We compare multiple reports to confirm status and timing. When a dataset is retired or offline, we add notes on scope and use cases.
• Archive mapping: We use the EDGI guide and partner repositories to map archived copies and community mirrors.
• Alternatives: When a federal series ends, we list vetted alternatives like Climate Central’s disaster cost tracking.

Tracker record format

Each entry includes agency, product name, URL, status, date observed, primary users, and links to archives or alternatives.

{
  "agency": "NOAA",
  "product": "Billion-Dollar Disasters",
  "status": "retired",
  "original_url": "https://...",
  "date_observed": "2025-05-xx",
  "primary_users": ["researchers", "journalists", "planners"],
  "archived_links": ["https://..."],
  "alternatives": ["Climate Central"]
}

Impact: what the data shows (and what we lose)

• Trend insight: The first six months of 2025 were the costliest on record for U.S. disasters, per Climate Central analysis reported here. Summary notes mention 14 events topping $1 billion.
• Risk to readiness: Taking down tools and reports reduces speed and quality of decisions on floods, heat, and wildfire.
• Farm impacts: EDF warns that removing USDA climate risk tools hurts drought planning and crop timing.

“You can’t protect what you can’t measure.” — EDF

Playbooks for key users

Researchers

• Start with our tracker for the latest status. Log your chain of custody (original URL, archive, date).
• For cost-of-disaster figures, pair NOAA retirement notes with Climate Central’s updates and document differences.
• Use the EDGI archive guide to locate mirrors; validate series continuity before analysis.

City and state planners

• For risk baselines, consult archived National Climate Assessment materials via EDGI. Add local sensor data where possible.
• When federal tools are down, request copies from university partners and regional climate centers.
• Document assumptions and data gaps in capital planning memos for audit and future updates.

Farmers and ag advisors

• Replace missing USDA climate risk tools with state extension bulletins and archived guidance flagged by EDF.
• Track seasonal trends with alternative sources and keep field logs on drought, heat, and pests to bridge data gaps.
• Ask co-ops and insurers for their validated climate baselines when USDA pages are offline.

Journalists

• Use our tracker to verify status, then quote corroboration from NPR, PBS, and BBC.
• Note timelines: layoffs, lease cancellations, and dataset retirement notices from rollback trackers add crucial context.
• Include a “how readers can find the data” box with the EDGI guide.

Policy context and transparency

NPR documents broad site changes and removals across agencies. PBS highlights the legal importance of the National Climate Assessment. News coverage shows the stakes: costliest disasters on record. This is not only technical. It is about public safety, budgets, and accountability.

Citizen action: Share documented gaps with local officials and editors. Ask agencies for public timelines to restore access or publish official archives. Clear, written requests help maintain environmental data governance and public trust.

FAQ

Where is the National Climate Assessment?

PBS reports it was removed from federal websites. Officials said content would be housed elsewhere, but clear public access was not available at that time. Use the EDGI guide to look for archived copies.

Is NOAA’s climate.gov down?

NPR says it stopped publishing after staff was terminated. Use archives and partner mirrors when possible.

What happened to the Billion-Dollar Disasters database?

Eos reports it was retired. Climate Central now publishes updated tallies. Document any methodology differences before analysis.

Are scientists trying to save data?

Yes. BBC describes a rush to preserve climate datasets, including ocean monitoring and CO2 station support concerns.

How do I report a missing dataset?

Submit the URL, agency, and date you observed the issue using our feedback email (listed in the tracker). Include links to coverage like PBS or NPR to aid verification.

Signals and references

• What canceled climate data would have shown (coverage)
• Scientists race to save U.S. climate data
• Major climate reports removed
• More environmental data deleted
• NOAA datasets will disappear
• EDGI: How to find climate data and science
• EDF: The case for saving data
• Rollback tracker
• Billion-dollar disaster data returns (non-federal)

What we track next

We continue to add entries, link archives, and flag alternatives. If you rely on US government climate data for research, planning, farming, or reporting, bookmark this page. When a dataset moves or disappears, you should not hit a dead end.