Protecting the Scientific Endeavor

Science Under Siege

The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund has fought for the scientific endeavor since 2011. Our initiatives ensure that scientists can conduct, publish, and discuss their research and advocate for science without the threat of political harassment, censorship, or legal intimidation.

Climate Litigation Toolkit

Our free legal resources explain the best practices for safely and effectively engaging in climate litigation and other scientific consulting work.

Our Year in Review

2023 was quite a year. Learn what your generous support made possible.

Updated Report: Open Records Laws

These laws, while critical to government transparency, are frequently misused by groups seeking to harass scientists and slow or halt the scientific endeavor. This report can help scientists and attorneys respond to such inquiries.

Political Action Toolkit

Our free legal resources explain the best practices for safely and effectively engaging in political advocacy.

Join Our Mailing List

Our Work

We provide free legal aid and resources to researchers, educate the scientific community about their rights and responsibilities, and strengthen legal protections to promote scientific integrity.

Silencing Science Tracker

The Silencing Science Tracker is a public database that tracks government efforts to restrict, censor, undermine, and misrepresent science since the November 2016 election. To date, we have documented more than 500 attacks on science. We catalog government efforts to restrict, censor, undermine, and misrepresent science.

Safeguarding Scientific Integrity

We promote scientific integrity reforms to ensure the best available research and data inform government decision-making. And we publish resources to advance understanding of how research institutions and federal agencies approach scientific integrity — and how to strengthen legal protections for science and scientists.

Latest Resources and Activities

Scientists: Know Your Rights 

The legal risks for any individual scientist are small, but there are actions you can take to protect and defend yourself, especially if you’re involved in scientific advocacy and activism.

Our Expertise in the News

  • Defending climate science & scientists under fire | Jeff's Climate Classroom

    As the impacts of manmade climate change have accelerated from factors like more extreme fires, heat and floods, and climate science itself has matured into credible discipline, more and more climate scientists have found themselves targeted.

  • Trump Targeted Scientists in His First Term. This Time, They’re Prepared.

    “Compared to the first Trump administration, government scientists are now more comfortable coming to us and using our legal assistance, taking legal action,” said Lauren Kurtz, executive director of [CSLDF]. “They are less afraid of rocking the boat.”

  • Portraits of catastrophe and courage in 2024

    As Trump prepared to return to office, the nonprofit Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, which provides free legal and educational support to researchers facing harassment and intimidation for their work, was gearing up for a high-stakes protracted struggle to protect scientists.

Take a Stand for Science

Your support helps us fight for scientists and defend scientific integrity.

Donate Today

Back to top
MQ: None XS (480-767px) S (768-1023px) M (1024-1231px) L (1232-1479px) XL (1480-2559px) XXL (2560px+)
Dims: