🧃The US Ghosts Climate Science

Welcome to The Strawman, the daily climate newsletter that’s always invited to the party—but unlike the US, actually shows up. Today, we’re looking at how American scientists just disappeared from a major UN climate meeting, why Trump’s administration is hitting mute on climate research, and what it means for global biodiversity efforts.

IPCC Meeting Without the US: A Science Deficit?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is where the world’s top climate scientists gather to make sense of global warming. Their reports influence policy, business strategies, and international climate agreements. So when US federal scientists failed to show up to this week’s meeting in China, people noticed.

Historically, the US has been one of the IPCC’s biggest contributors, funding over $59 million to support its work. But with Trump pulling the country out of the Paris Agreement (again), federal support has dried up, and American researchers have been locked out. While other countries are stepping up, the loss of US expertise could slow progress on crucial climate assessments.

Trump’s Climate Science Shutdown: What’s at Stake

The IPCC isn’t the only thing getting the cold shoulder. Trump’s administration has also reportedly slashed jobs at key climate agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service. That means fewer scientists tracking climate patterns, fewer forecasts on extreme weather, and—ironically—higher costs when disasters inevitably strike.

The Union of Concerned Scientists summed it up bluntly: “Censoring science does not change the facts about climate change.” But it does make it harder to prepare for the consequences. With funding freezes across environmental agencies, even conservation projects in developing countries, which previously relied on US support, are now at risk.

Biodiversity, Climate, and the US No-Show

Meanwhile, in Rome, global leaders met to tackle another urgent crisis—biodiversity loss. But once again, the US was nowhere to be found. Even though America is one of the world’s biggest polluters and home to vast natural ecosystems, it still hasn’t ratified the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

This absence has real consequences. A major part of the biodiversity summit was about securing financial commitments to protect nature, particularly in developing countries. Without the US, one of the biggest potential funders, conservation efforts face an uphill battle. As one summit leader put it: “We cannot do it without the US.”

The Takeaway

Trump’s second term is proving to be a full-speed retreat from global climate leadership. From cutting off climate research at home to ghosting crucial international summits, the US is making itself irrelevant in the fight against climate change. But here’s the thing—ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. The rest of the world is moving forward. Whether the US chooses to rejoin or sit on the sidelines, climate change is still happening.