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COP26, set for November in Glasgow, Scotland, is not just another international meeting. As journalists, our coverage of the summit should begin now. Audiences need to know the summit is coming and that the world’s scientists say it’s now or never for governments to reach an agreement for reining in global temperature rise.
Last week, Covering Climate Now announced “Code Red: Countdown to COP26,” our effort between now and the summit to help journalists nail this story. We’ll offer “Talking Shop” webinars, frequent commentary, and story recommendations, culminating in our next joint coverage week, October 31 to November 6, the first (and quieter) week of COP26. Through all of this, we’re encouraging journalists to focus on this simple but essential question: “What’s at stake?”
We recommend framing your coverage around these three themes:
- The most important number at COP26. Global temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) risks irreversible humanitarian and ecological catastrophe, the IPCC said; 2 degrees C invites unimaginable suffering. We’re at 1.1 degrees C now, making rapid change essential.
- Climate justice is both imperative and self-interested. The rich have emitted vastly more heat-trapping gases than the poor, but the poor suffer most from the impacts. Poor countries are demanding that the rich honor their Paris Agreement promise to pay $100 billion a year in climate aid. The 1.5 C target is unreachable without that aid.
- Solutions abound—but so do political barriers. The technologies necessary to slash emissions in half by 2030 and keep the world on track for 1.5 C exist. But only the most powerful global actors can implement these solutions at the speed and scale needed. Powerful interests—especially in the US, China, Russia, and Brazil—stand in the way. Unrelenting accountability is key.
Let’s be real: Chances are if you ask friends or many of your colleagues about COP26, they’ll have no clue what it is. So, for many newsrooms, an explainer might be a good start—and it’s not too soon, even though the summit is nine weeks out, to begin orienting audiences to it now. The three themes should then provide a strong foundation for a range of creative reporting and storytelling. Don’t forget: Although COP26 is a global summit, there are local impacts, no matter where you live—meaning this is a story for every newsroom on the planet.
We’ll announce more details on the specific events we have planned soon, so stay tuned!
ESSENTIAL CLIMATE COVERAGE
Unprecedented. After four years without rain, Madagascar is facing the world’s first “climate change famine.” People have been forced to rely on insects and cactuses for food, and over 500,000 children are in danger of suffering from acute malnutrition. “These people have done nothing to contribute to climate change,” said Shelley Thakral, of the UN World Food Program. “And yet they’re bearing the brunt of climate change.” From BBC News…
Filling the climate void. Afghanistan is ranked sixth in the world of countries most impacted by climate change, according to the Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index. Agriculture is a staple for many Afghans, but over the years, floods, droughts, crop failure, and livestock deaths, combined with distrust in government, have enabled Taliban recruiting. From CBS News…
Drier and wetter. Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The New York Times mapped changes in annual precipitation across the US over three decades. While the Eastern US has seen more rain, the West has experienced a significant decrease in precipitation, consistent with scientists’ expectations of the changes global heating will bring. From The New York Times…
17 inches. That’s the amount of rain that fell in parts of middle Tennessee Saturday, leading to flash floods and at least 21 deaths. Some died while attempting to drive to safety as floodwaters surged. From The Washington Post…
Some good news. With little collective action by world governments to phase out fossil fuels, Costa Rica and Denmark are taking matters into their own hands. The pair are working to form an alliance of countries committed to eliminating oil and gas production, as well as ending permits for new exploration. The Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance is set to launch in November, at the COP26 summit. From Reuters…
And some satire. The recent IPCC report not only made front page news but some inspired editorial cartoons. Secretary General António Guterres’s “code red” framing was the focus of some, while the US’s slow-rolled climate action was a target for others. Salvador Dali’s ‘The Persistence of Memory’ was even in the mix. (Can you guess how?) From Yale Climate Connections…
REPUBLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS
The following stories deserve special consideration for republication by CCNow partners:
- Big oil coined ’carbon footprints’ to blame us for their greed. Keep them on the hook – Op-ed by Rebecca Solnit, from the Guardian’s & CCNow’s ’Climate Crimes’ series
- New Mexico Drilling Permits Skyrocketed Under Trump, State’s Climate Future at Risk – Capital & Main
For partner outlets: to submit stories for sharing, please use this form. Instructions for republishing and the full list of stories available for republication can be found in our Sharing Library.
ODDS & ENDS
Coverage opportunity. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “World Conservation Congress” takes place from September 3 to 11 in Marseille, France. Indigenous leaders from around the world will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and various climate and biodiversity officials from the EU and US. New research on Indigenous communities’ vital role in protecting the Amazon is set to be released, along with a plan for reducing deforestation and biodiversity loss. Learn more here…
Jobs. The Guardian is looking for a New York-based senior reporter to cover environmental justice. The Arizona Republic is hiring a climate news reporter. The Boston Globe seeks a web producer for its climate change desk. And The Independent is hiring a climate correspondent in London.
Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
If you have any feedback on this newsletter, or know of information that should be included here, shoot us a note at editors@coveringclimatenow.org.