It’s crucial for the IPCC and other scientific assessments to take steps to address these flawed estimates of sea level rise, especially in the Global South, so that policies to protect people are based on accurate measures of the risks.

Alarmingly, most of the inaccurate measurements from these studies were also used in IPCC assessment reports intended to inform governments and policymakers on coastal vulnerability.

Out of 385 peer-reviewed studies, only 1 correctly described and aligned coastal sea-level height information to land elevation data. 99% of studies did not use accurate local sea-level height information, made errors in sea-level datum conversion, or missed crucial data processing steps.

This community-wide gap in understanding means that as many as 100 million more people will be affected by sea-level rise over the next century than previous estimates. The number especially increases drastically for Global South regions, particularly Southeast Asia. (Figure 4 from the study)

According to the paper, "On average, global coastal sea level is about 0.3 m higher than commonly assumed ... whereas in Southeast Asia, the discrepancies are the largest, with measured sea level exceeding previous assumed levels by, on average, 0.9–1.1 m."

In a groundbreaking new study released in @Nature.com, Dutch scientists find that today’s sea level is much higher than assumed in most coastal hazard assessments, with the most significant errors in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific regions.

“Secretary Noem’s reckless undermining of FEMA has put people’s lives at risk and greatly diminished the agency’s disaster response and recovery efforts. Good riddance. We’re glad to finally see her fired, " writes @ucsshana.bsky.social. Read UCS's statement:

“Secretary Noem has overseen a reign of terror at DHS, harming communities across the country and resulting in the deaths of people who sought to hold the administration accountable," writes UCS's Dr. Jennifer Jones.

💝 Love is in the air—and maybe a chill as well! Check out NOAA NCEI's map showing average temperatures for Valentine’s Day in swoon-worthy U.S. cities: bit.ly/FebNCEI

The National Science Foundation has just released its Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) regarding NCAR and it is gut-wrenching. The deadline to submit comments to the DCL is March 13th. I urge folks to please share and inform NSF on the critical importance of NCAR. www.nsf.gov/funding/info...

The Trump admin "has been forced to acknowledge its unlawful actions and release gov. documents related to this case, which will allow the public to see for itself how the DOE and EPA worked in concert to solicit a report with predetermined conclusions aimed at overturning the Endangerment Finding."

The authoritarian, violent, and anti-science actions of the Trump admin over the past week show clear contempt for democracy and the public good, endangering people in the US and around the world. Congress must uphold its constitutional responsibility and hold the administration accountable.

“President Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the bedrock global treaty to tackle climate change is a new low and yet another a sign that this authoritarian, anti-science administration is determined to sacrifice people’s well-being and destabilize global cooperation." Read UCS Statement:

The Trump admin & DHS Sec #Noem are continuing their ongoing assault on #FEMA with reports of major cuts to FEMA staff, which will put people’s lives and well-being at risk when disasters strike. Congress — we have a problem & oversight is needed ASAP. www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026...

When science is sidelined, children get hurt. In his latest anti-science move, RFK Jr. ignored overwhelming scientific evidence, bypassed the established review process for vaccine recommendations, and all but guaranteed that more children will get sick.

#NOAA released the 2025 Arctic Report Card this morning and it’s clear that fossil fueled climate change is having an alarming effect on the vital signs of this unique, crucial region of the world. (🧵)

"One bright spot from COP30 was the launch of the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, which 20 countries from Austria to Uruguay have now signed. Here’s to a 2026 in which we continue to fight for that right, ever more effectively, together."

Michigan communities can breathe easier this winter knowing that the state just streamlined the process to connect affordable and reliable clean energy, thanks to an update to utility DTE’s interconnection procedures. UCS’s Lee Shaver explains what this means in a new blog post:

"Deliberately dismantling an institution so central to weather forecasting and climate change prediction would not only undermine scientific research, it would leave people across the nation less prepared for the dangers of a warming world." Said @carlonimbus.bsky.social.

Consider signing up for this exciting hybrid workshop on Climate and AI in January! I'm excited to speak on one of the panels with @eabarnes.bsky.social and Amelia Cook, moderated by Katie Dagon www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEP...

Update — I just received this statement from a DHS spokesperson about hiring conspiracy theorist Gregg Phillips to lead FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery:

Trump Taps Conspiracy Theorist With No Official Experience to Top Disaster Response Job www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-taps-conspiracy-theorist-gregg-phillips-with-no-official-experience-to-top-disaster-response-job/ via @thedailybeast.bsky.social

Why were there fewer hurricanes than usual in 2025? And why were they so strong? Could 2025 be just an abnormal year, or was 2025 a glimpse of future hurricane seasons more significantly influenced by fossil fuel-caused #ClimateChange? @marc-alessi.bsky.social breaks it down: bit.ly/3MsiZUR

The Trump admin’s FEMA review council convenes Dec. 11 to discuss and vote on draft report recommendations. In her blog, UCS’s Shana Udvardy explains what to expect, including major concerns that the council will ignore the realities of climate change and the effects of Sec. Noem’s interference.

Trying to bury the evidence on climate change only serves to boost the profits of fossil fuel polluters, while harming the rest of us.

Key US climate change indicators were also scrubbed from EPA webpages, including data and maps on changes in temperature, drought, and heavy precipitation over the last few decades. These webpages can be found on Wayback Machine: web.archive.org/web/20251004...

The Trump administration has removed scientific data and climate change information from US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) webpages, including all references to human activities driving climate change.

Who’s surprised? #DHS Sec. #KristiNoem changes draft FEMA review council report. Former #FEMA head Cameron Hamilton asks blunt Q. “What degree of confidence do you have that the report that you submit to DHS will be what is submitted to the president?” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Trump’s FEMA director — the guy who replaced the YouTuber — just quit. FEMA has now been leaderless for over a year. This is what failure looks like.

Erika Spanger from UCS explains how climate change is fueling Hurricane Melissa and what it means for people in its path.

"At a moment when climate impacts are accelerating and disinformation is eroding trust in science, the work here continues steadfast, and that is no small feat." Read Dr. Delta Merner's blog from the IPCC meeting in Lima, Peru.

Bad day in Jamaica.

"Let’s not forget that there are those to hold accountable for disasters like this: the policymakers and fossil fuel companies who have long obstructed climate action, lied about climate science, and left communities to face the destruction of extreme disasters."

Shockingly, because of the government shutdown, the hurricane hunters are going unpaid as they risk their lives for theise data. And staff at the National Hurricane Center are also without pay as they continue to perform their critical duties during this record-breaking storm.

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 hurricane with 185 mph sustained winds. It will tie the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Atlantic recorded history based on central pressure. Follow the latest forecast here: www.hurricanes.gov

The delay in granting the disaster declaration for #Alaska after #Halong follows a disturbing trend by the Trump administration to delay requests and reimbursements and a trend of wondering, where exactly is #FEMA? blog.ucs.org/shana-udvard...

After Ex-Typhoon #Halong hit #Alaska on Oct.12 w/hurricane-force winds & floods, devastating remote villages & evacuation of ~1,800 people, Gov. Dunleavy had to fly to DC to get Pres. Trump to grant a disaster declaration unlocking $25M in critical relief. www.alaskasnewssource.com/2025/10/22/h...

On the ground reporting from Quinhagak. Not as catastrophic like further north, but still severe impacts from #halong, including 60 ft of Beach loss and the destruction of an extensive archeological dig. #alaska #flooding #erosion www.kyuk.org/public-safet...

On the ground reporting from devasted village of Nightmute, from the critical subsistence site of Umkumiut, and Toksook Bay. The brutal storm pushed salt water into many #subsistence fresh water areas. Many areas will have severe subsistence impacts #halong #alaska www.kyuk.org/public-safet...

Danger is brewing this week in the Caribbean, and it’s not just the Trump Administration's sinking of boats. In his latest blog, @decletbarreto.bsky.social calls for US climate and humanitarian aid, rather than military aggression, as Tropical Storm Melissa forms in the Caribbean: bit.ly/477G0o8

SCIENTISTS REACT 🎬 UCS nuclear experts watched the trailer for A #HouseOfDynamite, coming to Netflix this weekend, and here’s what they had to say: “I hope this film is a wake-up call.” Take action: act.ucsusa.org/4hormMp

Great news that @climatecentral.org has resurrected @noaa.gov’s Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database after the Trump administration axed it!

Will FEMA be ready for disaster response and recovery in its current hobbled state, especially when many other federal resources will literally be shut down? @ucsshana.bsky.social explores this pressing question in her latest blog.

Evidence for Democracy (E4D) recently completed a review of scientific integrity (SI) policies in the US & Canada. Its analysis revealed key criteria of SI (protections for scientists, transparent research, enforcing/normalizing SI policies) have suffered in the US since Inauguration.

The data and evidence are clear. Over the past 8 months, the egregious actions of President Trump and his enablers have caused real harm to people and communities across the country.

I couldn’t say this any better. @tomwarrickac.bsky.social not only highlights the importance of resilience but highlights failures across all levels of government and provides solid recommendation’s. www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...

On 7/29, we hosted a virtual action hour featuring our experts sharing updates on the current status of funding for #NOAA and #FEMA, as well as the current timeline for the appropriations process. UCS staff then shared 3 different actions to protect funding for these critical agencies. Watch now:

Today, the EPA released a proposal that would gut the 2009 Endangerment Finding. “These actions by Lee Zeldin are anti-science and backed by the fossil fuel industry, said Chitra Kumar, Managing Director, UCS Climate & Energy campaign.

Congress must reclaim its power-of-the-purse authority to halt attacks on vital agencies and safeguards and work quickly to undo the damage already done. The answer to worsening #DangerSeason will never lie in anti-science solutions. Can we count on you to push back @lisamurkowski.bsky.social?

#KillerHeat is... killing us🌡️ 💀. The ocean is losing its cool🌊🥵. We're making a U-turn away from solutions. (!!!). BUT heat responds quickly to reduced emissions if we #ActOnClimate. #DangerSeason is baking us. And this could be the coolest summer for the rest of our lives. This is #ClimateChange