What’s the Problem With Climate Change?

Why Don’t We Talk About It? What’s the Problem With Climate Change?

I need your help. Because I just can’t understand this.  What, exactly, is the problem with climate change?

I write articles on climate change – probably the biggest crisis we’ll ever face – and my readership drops. Instantly.

And I’m not alone.

MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes said that talking about climate change on news shows is a “ratings killer”. That’s strong stuff!

If he’s right, it’s no wonder news shows don’t “join the dots” between the extreme weather around the world, and its connection with climate change or global warming.

But many disagreed with Hayes:-

• Some said people ARE interested, but news outlets think about profit before content.
• Some big-name articles on climate change on other media (e.g. Slate magazine) are widely read.
• Others said that it’s really important how TV meteorologists communicate the problem with climate change to their TV viewers (and there have been drastic cuts in funding to the current climate science education of meteorologists in the US).

Whatever the reason, there’s certainly no denying that news many major news outlets simply do NOT mention climate change. An analysis shows that, of 127 TV broadcast segments on NBC, CBS, and ABC about the recent heat wave, only ONE mentioned climate change. Just one!

And it’s not just in the US. Sometimes I watch BBC news – they have a reputation for being fair and unbiased, and overall I think they do a pretty good job. But I’ve watched them cover the recent extreme weather all over the world. And I have not heard the news anchor mention climate change – not once. Sometimes individual reporters will say that a particular disaster is being made more extreme by climate change, which is good (and accurate) but not the anchor.

Personally, I find it really, really worrying that news outlets are failing to link climate change to current extreme weather. (They failed to make the link last year too).

We Discuss Politics. What’s the Problem With Climate Change?

Watch any news broadcast and it will be full of politics. And we all talk about politics, don’t we? At dinners, at parties, at functions…..

And when you think about it, climate change is a political issue.

Yes, you and I can make changes to reduce our impact (get a free report below on the 3 big things you can do that WILL make a difference).

But governments and big business have a huge part to play in saving the planet. They are the ones who can make BIG moves to reduce fossil fuel use. And if your government is not doing so, then it’s a political issue. So why not talk about it?

If I write an article on President Trump, it generally gets good readership. It’s politics. (And it’s generally bad news for the environment). But if I write about climate change, it tends to be ignored. It’s still politics (and it’s still bad for the environment). But hardly anyone reads it.

So why? Why don’t YOU read about climate change?

Because it’s bad news? It is. But generally stuff about Trump is also bad news. The news about the Greek wildfires, the European heatwave and the California wildfires are also bad news. But articles on these topics are widely watched and read.

So why not climate change? Because you can’t do anything about it? Yes you can. We all can. If the suffragettes had said we can’t do anything about it, women probably still wouldn’t be able to vote. The #MeToo movement has massively raised awareness of an often hidden problem.

Too many governments and too many news outlets around the world, don’t connect the dots between extreme weather and climate change. And when governments don’t act to slow the problem with climate change, we all seem to think there’s nothing to be done.

But there is!

And I believe the media has an obligation to get us talking – talking about the problem with climate change, and the solutions. So, is it the media’s fault that we’re not talking about it? Or is it the fault of big business muddying the waters, casting doubt upon proven science? Or is it simply that are there more interesting topics to read and discuss?

Let  me know in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Warm regards,

P.S.  Don’t forget to download your free climate change report here!

Related:

• How many will you get right in this climate change QUIZ?
• Air conditioning and Climate change – the link you hadn’t thought of !