Open Government Data in an Age of Growing Hostility Towards Science

Policy-making is inherently political, and bound up with different beliefs, values and viewpoints, as public policy scholars studying climate change policy know all too well. This is why there has, and always will be debate in policy-making circles about the relevance and reliability of particular sources of evidence (Wells, 2007). However, support for open government data to inform policy has generally been supported by the U.S. executive and legislative branches of government. President Reagan made Global Positioning System (GPS) data available for peaceful, civilian use in 1986. Earth observation data, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air quality and surface temperatures, is used by experts worldwide to address the growing demand for energy, food and water. The Trump administration (beginning January 2017), has broken with previously observed protocols, highlighting the fragility of open government data upon which science and policy experts depend. What is the impact of an ‘America First’ stance on open government data? Do federal agencies have the ability to protect and preserve environmental data as administrations transition? Does the President and Congress receive guidance on open government data policies and laws impacting the global transition to low-carbon development contemplated under the Paris Agreement?