Vocal Earth is a victory for the planet

The fact that you are reading this article in a community called Earth on Vocal is massive news. Finally, the world is starting to take the climate emergency seriously.

Back in January 2021, I reported here on Vocal that the world's media, including this platform, was displaying a dereliction of duty by not making the environment a top-menu item.

The Earth community did not exist then, and the article found a home, somewhat bizarrely, in politically-charged community The Swamp. You can read it here:

Thankfully (and I really am thankful, Vocal editors), it was realised soon after that a new home was required to put the focus on articles concerning the plight of our planet, and efforts to reverse the damage we humans are causing it.

And I am delighted to report that there has been progress elsewhere, too.

In the UK, where I am based, Sky News built on an already impressive environmental platform by launching The Climate Show on April 7.

Sky claimed — and I have found no evidence to prove otherwise — that this is the first (and only) daily prime time news show dedicated to the climate crisis.

That in itself is shocking. While it is encouraging that Sky has taken the lead, the rest of the world’s media must now appreciate the gravity of the situation, and inform its viewers, listeners and readers.

Sky’s long-overdue innovation is timely, ahead of the UK hosting the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November — delayed by a year because of the pandemic.

Head of Sky News, John Ryley, said:

“There has never been a more urgent need to report accurately on the climate crisis and to bring this story to new audiences.

“In this critical year for action ahead of COP26, The Daily Climate Show from Sky News will feature forensic data-journalism, expert analysis and eye-witness reporting and look at the solutions to climate change.”

The move has certainly delighted Britain’s Conservative government. COP26 president Alok Sharma said:

“I’m delighted to see how Sky, a Principal Partner and Media Partner for COP26, is informing and engaging its viewers about the climate crisis, and the need for urgent action, through the Daily Climate Show.

“Businesses, including media organisations, have a key part to play on the road to Glasgow and in helping us all build back greener.”

On the right side of the climate crisis

The right of politics has traditionally been slower to confess that human activities have accelerated CO2 emissions and the rate of dangerous climate change.

Too often the emphasis has been placed on the perceived importance of supporting fossil fuel industries and the jobs they have brought. That, and a built-in aversion to changing our lifestyles.

Back in the UK, the biggest game changer for environmentalists came in February 2021, when the Daily Express, previously a pit of climate-change sceptic views, launched a campaign to put pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The campaign demanded a boost in the number of green jobs, an overhauling of the tax system to benefit green industries, and for Britain to lead the world in fighting off the climate emergency.

The fact that the newspaper was taken over three years ago by Labour-supporting editor Gary Jones is, of course, significant.

Nevertheless, the Daily Express has consistently been the voice of Middle England, and this change of tack will give plenty of people on the right of politics a great deal to think about.

Jones said in an interview:

“In the past the Express has neglected to highlight the most important issue we face, namely protecting the planet by collectively doing all we can to make the right choices.

“We are now very much engaged in campaigning for Green Britain and will be highlighting the issues affecting us all and future generations in the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this November and beyond.”

Jones was one of 32 key media influencers named by The Climate Media Coalition as having the potential power to enable the UK to transform into a carbon negative economy.

It is absolutely true that the media is playing, and will continue to play, a vital role in tackling the climate emergency. The media educates adults about what is going on in the world. When the media shields the truth and pushes its own agenda, that’s when we have a problem.

And yes, that is most of the time. For every begrudging acceptance on US network Fox News that climate change actually exists, there’ll be at least two insane, uneducated ramblings claiming the opposite on the same channel.

Will the climate crisis unite the world?

Hope emerged in 2019 when a global campaign, Covering Climate Now, launched by Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, signed up 170 media outlets from across the world, all committing to running a week’s worth of climate coverage in the lead-up to the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.

Of course, a week is not long enough, but there has been a notable shift since then in media perceptions.

The Columbia Journalism Review heroically continues to push media outlets everywhere to recognise environmental stories as headline news, in an age where young activists like Greta Thunberg have had to take on the responsibilty to educate the public.

Back in the UK, leading regional media group Newsquest launched a climate change campaign across all 160 local news brands in March 2021.

That’s a reach of more than 40 million people, and as much as I can criticise Newsquest for many things (as a former employee), I have to give credit to Magazines Manager at Newsquest, Emma Stowell-Corten, who promoted the idea. She said:

“I feel it is important that we use our privileged position as a trusted local news source to ensure that accurate news and information about the climate crisis is freely available.

“With so much disinformation around, it’s important that we use our platforms to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. This is a crisis that requires all of our attention.”

I hope this sentiment can be carried around the world at great speed. Slowing down the sixth mass extinction should be the one thing that unites us all on this planet.

Meanwhile, I aim to be an important contributor to the information and education programme here on Vocal Earth. I hope you will make regular visits and spread the word.

A succession of small gains can add up to a big win for us all.