“I think the reason why climate is so very important is that it affects all of us now…this is a planetary problem of massive urgency.”
Al Roker, NBC
People who watch local news seem to be big fans of their favorite weather anchors. Based on their social media followings, some TV weather broadcasters are bona fide celebrities. Between their expertise, and the respect they enjoy in their communities, it makes sense that meteorologists are positioned to be our most trusted climate change educators.
A few shining examples
The most famous TV weather personality is undoubtedly Al Roker with NBC. He has been a fixture on the Today show for years, and is one of the most trusted voices in America. He has also become more outspoken about climate change over the years. A few examples of his top-notch climate work include this interview, and this story. Additionally, just last month, he co-hosted a one hour special about the climate crisis called “Burning Questions”.
There are others who stand out. Although I don’t live in Florida, I follow Tampa meteorologist, Jeff Berardelli, on Twitter because of the quality information he provides about the relationship between weather and climate change. Apparently I am not alone; he was recently voted the nation’s best meteorologist by Broadcasting & Cable.
Another TV weather broadcaster who makes it his mission to educate about the realities of climate change is Mike Nelson, meteorologist in Denver. He co-authored a book called The World’s Littlest Book on Climate: Ten Facts in Ten Minutes on CO2. A quick read, it clearly and effectively describes the problem and solutions. In addition to integrating it in his forecasts, he is also active on social media about climate.
Can we clone them?
While many TV weather personalities do educate viewers about how climate change is impacting our lives, some do not take an active role. We could use more like Al, Jeff, and Mike out there.
One challenge is TV weather forecasters get information about severe weather from the National Weather Service, and these reports focus only the data about the crisis at hand. Climate scientists, like those at NOAA, are working behind the scenes connecting the dots between weather and climate. Unfortunately, that connection isn’t always communicated to those presenting to the public.
Additionally, despite the fact that scientists now have the ability to attribute the contribution of climate change to a specific weather event, the link is still sometimes politicized. Because of the trusting relationships viewers have with their weather anchors, they may be more accepting of information from meteorologist than from other scientists. The rise in weather-related tragedies is making the link harder to ignore. This creates the ideal opportunity for education.
A valuable partnership
In an effort to improve the integration of information, a partnership has formed between the non-profit organization, Climate Central, and weather broadcasters. At the request of forecasters, Climate Central will provide localized climate change information including data, graphs, and maps for them to include in their broadcasts. More and more are taking advantage of this resource.
What about in your neck of the woods?
Does your local TV weather anchor talk about climate change how it affects extreme weather? If you don’t watch the news, check out your local meteorologists on social media to see what they are saying. You could also look to others either regionally or nationally who are providing quality reporting.
No matter where you get your information, the most important thing we can do to make a difference is to talk about climate change. Through conversations with family and friends, I have learned so much, and discovered more and more topics to research and write about. I have also found the more times I start these conversations, the easier it becomes.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.