A new climate change group is taking on the mainstream press in a bold new way. EndClimateSilence.org, is a digital activism group comprised entirely of volunteers. It’s encouraging journalists and politicians to explicitly state the links between extreme weather and climate change.
The undeniable link between extreme weather and climate change
EndClimateSilence.org is targeting under-reported links between climate change and the rise in extreme weather events. Instances of destructive wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and droughts are increasing around the globe. As Scientific American reports, the rise in global temperatures is affecting their frequency and severity:
A changing climate leads to changes in the frequency, intensity, spatial extent, duration and timing of extreme weather and climate events, and can result in unprecedented extreme weather and climate events,
A report published by the Met Office on 1 November is just the latest study to show the link between the climate and destructive weather.
The majority of mainstream media coverage often neglects to explicitly state the links between climate change and extreme weather. As a result, EndClimateSilence.org seeks to address this serious shortcoming, one journalist at a time. The group states that the silence from the media on the issue needs to end:
These stories are all around us. The media reports on them every day. But they fail to connect what’s happening to climate change. During the global heatwave of summer 2018, only 11.3 % of newspaper articles and 7.1% of television news segments about the heat mentioned climate change or global warming. Even fewer said that global warming is caused by human carbon dioxide pollution.
Naming and shaming
As part of its campaign, the group is calling out journalists and politicians on Twitter who do not accurately cover climate change. But the group also makes a point of praising and signal-boosting those who provide accurate coverage.
EndClimateSilence.org is encouraging Twitter users to call out dodgy coverage and celebrate compelling pieces using the hashtag #EndClimateSilence:
The media's surreal and disturbing silence on #climatechange must end. The time to act is NOW!
Add your voice and say it loud! #EndClimateSilence pic.twitter.com/gXwIjK27PF
— End Climate Silence (@EndClimtSilence) September 12, 2018
The trend is due to #ClimateChange. https://t.co/wpz3aoSxkv
We are wondering if you already know this but just are not saying the words?
It is life-or-death for the media to #EndClimateSilence now. pic.twitter.com/puweSLqQzV
— End Climate Silence (@EndClimtSilence) October 30, 2018
Part of #climatesilence is the media's silence on the fact that half of all vertebrates have died out in the past 50 years.
That life on our only planet is dying out with astonishing speed is not just a science story.
HUMANS ARE IN DANGER, PEOPLE! #EndClimatesilence https://t.co/EQ79YFX88D
— End Climate Silence (@EndClimtSilence) October 30, 2018
The group is paying particular attention to the United States midterm elections. According to EndClimateSilence.org, the 2016 presidential debates didn’t feature a single question about climate change. Therefore, the group is highlighting politicians who are campaigning on the issue:
Thank you, @Tony4WI, for speaking the truth about #ClimateBreakdown!
And thank you again to @tmj4 and @mcteich for asking the question. Wisconsin's children are in your debt! 💚 https://t.co/NAGjQPRPH7
— End Climate Silence (@EndClimtSilence) October 27, 2018
The start of something bigger
While the group is focusing its efforts on the American midterm elections and the mainstream media, it has larger plans for the future. According to the group’s founder, Genevieve Guenther, calling out journalists on Twitter is only the start. The group wants to develop and strengthen lines of communication between journalists and scientists. It also plans on working with schools and colleges to help foster a new generation of climate aware journalists.
Get Involved!
– Join The Canary if you appreciate the work we do.
– Follow EndClimateSilence.org on Twitter
Feature image via SC National Guard/Flickr
