Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s NOAA Cuts Highlight Need for Global Climate Prediction Coordination

**New Delhi, March 7, 2025** – The recent downsizing of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under President Trump underscores the urgent need for a globally coordinated system for climate prediction, argues Raghu Murtugudde, retired professor from IIT Bombay and the University of Maryland. Murtugudde’s analysis, published in *The Hindu*, points to the vulnerability of national climate prediction efforts to political pressures and funding limitations.

While current climate *projections* (long-term scenarios) are well-coordinated through the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate *predictions* (shorter-term forecasts) lack the same level of international cooperation. This leaves them susceptible to cuts like those seen at NOAA, impacting the accuracy and availability of vital weather and climate services.

Murtugudde advocates for a more robust, globally coordinated system for climate predictions, mirroring the successful model of the IPCC’s projections. This would involve redundancy in predictions, ensuring resilience against political interference. Furthermore, he stresses the need for higher-resolution models (“K-scale” models offering 1km resolution) to provide more location-specific early warnings and seasonal outlooks. These advanced models, requiring significant international collaboration and computing resources, are crucial for effective disaster preparedness and response.

The article also highlights the need for cost-benefit analyses to justify the continued funding of climate prediction centers. This is not merely about efficiency, but about ensuring the long-term viability of these vital services in a world of competing priorities. The author concludes that a global, coordinated approach is not just desirable, but essential for building a resilient climate prediction system capable of meeting the challenges of an increasingly volatile climate.

Read More