German Data Vault Shields U.S. Climate Research from Political Interference
German scientists are preparing to store backup copies of U.S. climate simulation data at the German Climate Computing Center in Hamburg, adding about 5 petabytes of capacity. The move responds to concerns that the Trump administration could delete, block, or manipulate climate data needed for the next U.N. climate assessment due in 2029. German research leaders cite the U.S. withdrawal from international climate bodies and cuts to climate research as key motivations for the safeguard.
The DKRZ currently holds 254 petabytes of climate simulation data, with the new racks adding roughly 5 petabytes specifically for U.S. backup copies. The German Research Foundation allocated $35 million in late 2025 to fund this effort and six other projects, including SHIELD and SEND, designed to preserve endangered U.S. science datasets. The Mauna Loa Observatory, which maintains the longest continuous CO2 record, faced a defunding attempt in 2025 that Congress ultimately rejected.
The CMIP7-ark project targets the U.S. contribution to the seventh IPCC assessment, scheduled for 2029. German science leaders cite the U.S. withdrawal from both the IPCC and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in January, along with funding cuts and removal of climate references from government websites, as driving their concern about potential data deletion or manipulation.
This initiative could reshape how international scientific collaboration functions when governments withdraw from global agreements. Researchers worldwide may gain a safety net against political interference, but the arrangement also highlights growing distrust between allied nations. If successful, similar backup systems could emerge for other fields, potentially normalizing the idea that scientific data requires protection from political volatility. The 2029 IPCC report's credibility may depend on whether such safeguards prove necessary.