Media Statement from the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS) on recent cuts to science capability in the United States

Today, the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS) warned recent cuts to science in the United States would affect public safety and the economy—not just in Australia but across the world. 

AMOS is deeply concerned by recent reports of reductions in science capabilities and mass lay-offs at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. NOAA is the main governmental agency providing services around weather, climate and oceans to the American public, including weather forecasts and warnings through the National Weather Service. The agency is at the forefront of the science internationally, and it provides global leadership in shaping ocean, fisheries, climate, space and weather policies. As recently emphasised by our sister organisation the American Meteorological Society: 

Recent terminations within the NOAA workforce are likely to cause irreparable harm and have far-reaching consequences for public safety and economic well-being in the United States. 

We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in the United States and join their call for strong support for NOAA and the other US science agencies and extreme caution in altering governmental roles and responsibilities for monitoring and forecasting the atmosphere and oceans.The atmosphere and oceans are globally connected and do not recognise political boundaries. Weather forecasts produced by NOAA, and Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, rely upon critical monitoring facilities maintained by governments around the world and are built on fundamental knowledge and technology developed in partnership with the global scientific community. Cuts in the US will not only reduce their preparedness, but will have global consequences, including in the Australian community. It is therefore essential that all nations maintain strong investment in research, monitoring and prediction of the atmosphere and ocean. The benefits of this investment will be the continued provision of vital guidance to the public that saves lives, minimises vulnerability and helps to manage cost-of-living pressures.

MEDIA INTERVIEWS

• Dr Martin Singh, AMOS President: president@amos.org.au
• Prof Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, AMOS Vice-President: sarah.kirkpatrick@anu.edu.au