My Climate Emergency Forum Webcast

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I was pleased to be invited to have a conversation on climate journalism, climate policy and solution pathways with the team behind the popular webcast Climate Emergency Forum: Peter Carter, M,D, a past expert reviewer of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports and director of the Climate Emergency Institute; Paul Beckwith, a climate system scientist and professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory; and Regina Valdez, program director at the New York City chapter of the Climate Reality Project. I hope you’ll give a listen and weigh in with a reaction - AND share this please.

A rough transcript of our conversation is here via Trint. Here are a couple of my key points:

“A heavy rainstorm where no one lives is not a disaster. A disaster [occurs at] the interface between hazards and people.”

“The two key elements of the climate story now are how do we decarbonize the energy system -  cut emissions of greenhouse gases -  and how do we cut vulnerability to climate hazards. And the word adaptation is a flawed way to think about it. It’s not just adapting to future changes in the climate; it’s reducing vulnerability to the climate we know now.”

Here’s their description:

40 Years of Climate with Andrew Revkin

Climate Emergency Forum welcomes Andrew Revkin, a seasoned environmental journalist. The discussion revolves around the evolution of climate change coverage in the media and the critical issues facing the climate crisis today.

This video was recorded on May 22nd, 2024, and published on June 2nd, 2024, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

Be sure to watch ‘til the very end where Andrew performs one of his songs.

Revkin emphasizes that a disaster is defined by the intersection of hazards and people, highlighting the importance of reducing vulnerability to climate hazards alongside decarbonizing the energy system. He argues that the term “adaptation” is somewhat flawed because it implies only future changes, whereas the focus should also be on reducing current vulnerabilities.

Revkin reflects on his journey in climate journalism, noting the significant challenges and changes over the past 40 years. He recalls the early days when climate change was a controversial and uncomfortable topic for mainstream media. He credits his work, particularly the “Dot Earth” blog at The New York Times, for helping to bring climate issues into the public eye. Revkin points out that while reducing carbon emissions is crucial, it is equally important to address societal and structural issues that exacerbate the impacts of climate events, such as urban planning and population growth in vulnerable areas.

The conversation also touches on the role of media in shaping public perception and policy. Revkin discusses the need for balanced reporting that avoids sensationalism and focuses on actionable solutions. He criticizes the tendency to attribute every extreme weather event to global warming, which can undermine the credibility of climate science. Instead, he advocates for a nuanced approach that carefully assesses the links between climate change and specific hazards.

Revkin underscores the need for innovative communication strategies to engage the public and policymakers in meaningful discussions about climate solutions.

Liberated carbon, it’ll turn your night to day

As they mention, they invited me to cap the show with some music - my song Liberated Carbon. For technical reasons I recorded it separately and it was stitched in, or you can listen right here:

Here’s a highly relevant Sustain What post:

Parting shot

We lost our fifth dearly-loved dog in 32 years over the weekend. Dogs teach us so much about the humane part of being human. Here was Mickey at Lamoine Beach, just a few days before his lymphoma really kicked in and forced a final farewell.