As the Nation’s premier agency for climate science and data, we recognize that the impacts of climate change are disproportionately felt by historically under-resourced communities and communities of color. We believe that equitable access to the most accurate and reliable climate data will serve to fortify and build climate resilience for all communities. NOAA is committed to ensuring access to and usability of our products, services, tools and resources for all people and communities. In so doing, NOAA will make equity central to every facet of our mission of science, service, and stewardship from our strategic priorities to our daily operations and practices.
This commitment begins within our own organization. We welcome difficult conversations and continuous learning that make ours an inclusive and desirable workplace. Through critical examination of policies, processes, and practices that drive our internal culture and external engagements we will ensure that science, stewardship, and service are the ethos we live up to for all Americans.
To do this work well, we will build upon established progress and focus on developing authentic relationships through sustainable community engagement. We will honor local, traditional, and Indigenous knowledge, treaty and trust responsibilities to tribes, and center the needs of under-resourced communities. Finally, in partnership, we will co-design, co-develop, and co-produce science and resources that address the unique needs of those communities to realize greater service equity.