Jorgen Thomsen, Director, Climate Solutions, discusses why we support accurate climate journalism that serves people most impacted by climate change.
In a new collaborative effort with our Journalism & Media and Local News Programs, Climate Solutions recently made a strategic investment to support several independent nonprofit newsrooms covering the climate crisis. We see climate journalism as an essential piece of our strategy because of its ability to educate the public about the complexities of climate change in accessible, understandable terms. Climate journalism also holds governments, corporations, and institutions accountable for their role in either contributing to or combating climate change.
Many entities have vested interests in downplaying or misrepresenting the impact of climate change to maintain public approval, avoid regulatory consequences, or continue lucrative but environmentally damaging practices. Investigative climate journalism plays a vital role in exposing these practices, thus maintaining transparency and integrity in climate action efforts.
Investigative climate journalism plays a vital role in exposing these practices, thus maintaining transparency and integrity in climate action efforts.
From oil companies that neglect safety standards to governments that fail to meet their climate pledges, climate journalism sheds light on misconduct and misrepresentation, compelling stakeholders to address the issues they may otherwise ignore.
Several nonprofit news organizations covering the environment and climate have sprung up over the last decade. Many have developed sustainable models and are now looking to expand, create partnerships with local news outlets, provide capacity support and training to local journalists, and target specific news beat deserts.
Leaders of these nonprofits have surfaced two daunting problems they face when engaging with philanthropy. They hear one of two things after a pitch or introductory call:
- “We are a climate or environmental funder and do not have a stream of grantmaking for journalism on the subject,” or
- “We are a media and journalism funder that does not fund beat-specific outlets. There are simply so many outlets that, out of fairness, we cannot engage with any.”
MacArthur, however, values this intersection of climate and journalism. For us, a cross-programmatic investment in climate journalism serves existing grantmaking strategies, undergirds a legacy investment as our climate strategy winds down, and aligns with the equity values that govern our climate grantmaking.
Representing All Populations
Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities who often lack the resources to cope with its impacts. Populations experiencing low-income, Indigenous peoples, and residents of vulnerable geographic areas are among the first to experience severe environmental consequences, including food and water scarcity, displacement, and health issues. However, these communities are frequently underrepresented in climate discussions, both in policy forums and mainstream media.
Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities who often lack the resources to cope with its impacts.
Climate journalism amplifies these underrepresented voices, giving visibility to people most affected by climate change and highlighting the necessity of inclusive environmental policies. By covering stories of climate refugees, Indigenous land rights, and rural communities facing unprecedented climate events, journalists bring a human face to an otherwise scientific and policy-heavy discourse. This human element fosters empathy, encouraging broader public support for climate policies that prioritize vulnerable populations. Additionally, climate journalism contributes to the larger conversation on climate justice, advocating for equitable solutions and drawing attention to the need for sustainable development that includes all populations, not just the most privileged.
Understanding the Climate Crisis with Facts
In a world where mis- and disinformation spread easily through social media, climate journalism counters climate change denial and sets the record straight with verifiable facts. Various interest groups continue to spread misleading information about climate science, attempting to cast doubt on well-established facts to maintain the status quo. Climate journalists use fact-based reporting to refute these falsehoods and provide readers with accurate information. This counter-narrative is vital in building societal resilience against climate denialism, which often undermines policy progress and delays necessary action.
Public trust in science had been strained in recent years, most notably during the pandemic, but accurate and persistent climate journalism helps reestablish credibility and underscores the urgency of climate-related issues.
As we navigate the complex future of climate policy and environmental justice, investing in and supporting climate journalism will become increasingly crucial. The stakes are high, and climate journalism offers the tools needed to steer us toward a more informed, just, and decarbonized future. Through its influence, climate journalism fosters a society equipped to understand the climate crisis and take meaningful action to address it.
