Pioneering Pledge Aims to Ensure Accurate and Actionable Information on Climate Change
In a landmark initiative to combat misinformation and enhance public understanding of climate change, leading scientific associations and prominent media outlets from around the globe are set to sign the “Global Climate Science-Media Action Pledge.” The signing ceremony will take place on Tuesday, January 30, during a special Presidential Session at the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) in Baltimore, Maryland.
Developed in collaboration between AMS and EarthX, the pledge underscores a commitment to delivering scientifically accurate, accessible, and actionable information related to climate change. The signatories affirm that climate change is an undeniable reality, poses significant dangers, and is already causing damage. Moreover, the pledge highlights that climate change stands as a top priority for the participating organizations, who pledge to collaborate in disseminating science-based information and solutions to the general public and all stakeholders.
AMS President Brad Colman emphasized the crucial role of cooperation between scientific associations and media in addressing the challenges of climate change. Colman stated, “Scientific associations have the evidence and the ongoing research, but it’s not enough for us to know. We need to work more closely with the media so that people everywhere not only get access to the information we have but understand its value and limitations.”
The pledge has already gained significant support, with nearly 30 globally recognized professional societies and media organizations from Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America committing to its principles. Colman expressed optimism that more organizations would join the movement for science-based climate communications in the future.
Dan Russell, CEO of EarthxTV, emphasized the pivotal role of the media in addressing environmental challenges, saying, “When we talk about climate change, we’ve got to be spot-on with the science—it’s how we help people understand what’s at stake and what we can do about it.”
The signing ceremony will be accompanied by a Presidential Session featuring speakers from AMS, EarthX, NOAA, Accuweather, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), and the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS). The session will focus on discussing solutions to bridge the gap between climate science and public knowledge. Several of these organizations are also among the signatories of the pledge.
As part of the collaborative efforts, AMS and EarthX will sign a bilateral partnership agreement during the event, with the aim of working closely together on weather and climate communications. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of climate-related issues and promoting informed decision-making in the face of the global climate crisis.
(Source: American Meteorological Society Featured image credit: CC0 Public Domain)
