Schatz Calls for More News Coverage on Climate Change

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement in response to a new Media Matters report detailing how broadcast networks covered climate change in 2015:

“In a year when nearly 200 countries around the world collectively recognized the threat of climate change and the United States made historic commitments to cut carbon pollution, major networks actually cut their media coverage of climate change.  In 2015, the network Sunday shows devoted just 73 minutes to climate change, a ten percent decrease from the year before.  What makes these findings even more troubling is the fact that with the little time devoted to climate change, these Sunday shows continued to mislead their audiences by including climate denial as part of the discussion.   The facts are clear.  Scientists, governments, and major corporations around the world have accepted the facts about climate change and are having real debates on solutions.  In this consequential election year, it’s time for news broadcasters to do the same.”