Al Gore’s activist group demands broadcasters push ‘climate crisis’ in their coverage

The Climate Reality Project, an activist group founded by Al Gore in 2006, is now demanding that major broadcast news organizations refer to climate change as a “crisis” — and have launched a public petition to entreat ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and MSNBC to change their ways.

“When stronger storms and hotter wildfires leave millions homeless, it’s a crisis. When runaway global warming threatens our food and water, it’s a crisis. When our kids walk out of school because their future is at stake, it’s a crisis. But the coverage we see on television doesn’t match the reality outside our windows,” the organization says in a public outreach.

They claim that “less than 4% of news segments” categorize climate matters as a crisis or emergency. The group wants the networks to categorize such factors as weather events and temperature as an “urgent, existential threat,” among other things.

“The words your reporters and anchors use matter. What they call something shapes how millions see it — and how entire nations act,” the new petition states.

“Your network can make a difference. With your voice and your reach, you can jump start a global conversation on how we solve this crisis. While we still have time. It starts with the news calling this exactly what it is. Call it a climate crisis.”

The outreach must have appeal for Mr. Gore’s fans; the petition garnered close to 11,000 signatures within hours; organizers are now calling it the official “Call It a Crisis Campaign.”