Scientists and Librarians Turn to “End of Presidential Term” Web Archive to Safeguard Climate Change Data

Update to Dec. 19, 2016 blog entry:

Sources tell Inside EPA that the incoming Trump administration’s EPA transition team intends to immediately remove non-regulatory climate data from the agency’s website, including: References to President Barack Obama’s June 2013 Climate Action Plan; Strategies for 2014 and 2015 to cut methane and other data, according to a source familiar with the transition team; and Obama’s 2013 memo ordering EPA to establish its power sector carbon pollution standards.

It is unknown at this time when and if detailed climate science information, such as models, tools and databases on the EPA Office of Research & Development’s (ORD) website will be impacted.

Source: Trump Transition Preparing to Scrub Some Climate Data from EPA Website, Inside EPA, Jan. 18, 2017 (subscription required).

In other climate change document preservation news, the Sierra Club utilized the Freedom of Information Act to assist in protecting these resources– beginning with information housed at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. On Jan. 12, the organization filed requests asking those agencies to turn over records, including data on greenhouse gas emissions, so that while the request is pending the information will be preserved online, buying more time preservation efforts.

Scientists and Librarians Turn to “End of Presidential Term” Web Archive to Safeguard Climate Change Data, Dec. 19, 2016.

Sources and Further Reading:

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