Communities Affected by Climate Change Need More Than Data

A recent study in the community of La Margarita, Puerto Rico, suggests that providing climate data alone is not enough to help underserved areas. As Eos reports, residents facing flooding and pollution often encounter barriers to using NASA Earth Observations tools, including language gaps, poor internet access, and a lack of trust in authorities. The researchers found that while tools for flood mapping and air quality are highly valued, the community prioritizes collaboration and local decision-making over solutions imposed by outside experts. The authors argue that true environmental justice requires building trusting relationships between scientists and the people who need these tools most.

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