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Media Construction
of Global Warming
PowerPoint Slide Show,
Lesson 8
History of Global Warming in
the Media
Dec. 4,
1957
Feb. 2,
1970
An Aquarian Festival
of Joy & Harmony
on Earth
Geodesic Dome
Inhabited by
Spiritual Groups
Artisans, Artists, and Craftsmen Gather Your
Endeavors to Sell, Buy, Trade, & Teach
1970
1970
What do these headlines communicate about
scientific discourse on climate change during the 1970s?
Study Says Man Alters Climate
NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 23, 1971
Climate Experts Assay Ice Age Clues
NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 27, 1972
Climatic Change: Are We on the Brink of a
Pronounced Global Warming?
SCIENCE, August 1975
2 Climate Experts Decry
Predictions of Disaster
NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 22, 1976
Even U.S. Farms May Be Hit by Cooling Trend
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, May 31, 1976
Is Energy Use Overheating World?
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, July 25, 1977
THE ICE AGE
COMETH?
March 1,
1975
President Jimmy Carter at the Dedication of
Solar Panels added to the White House
June 20,
1979
Feb. 24,
1979
Public Opinion Poll
May 1981
Union of Concerned Scientists
Question:
Have you heard or read anything
about the Greenhouse Effect?
Had heard
___%
38
Had not heard
___%
50
Aug. 24,
1981
Oct. 19,
1987
UNEP
logo
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(formed in 1988)
The role of the IPCC is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open
and transparent basis the scientific, technical and socio-economic
information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of
human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for
adaptation and mitigation.
Global Climate Coalition
(formed in 1989)
The GCC coordinates business participation in the scientific and policy
debate on the global climate change issue. The Global Climate Coalition
is an organization of private companies and business trade associations
representing more than 230,000 firms.
July 4,
1988
Aug. 23,
1988
What do these headlines communicate about the
political response to global warming in the late
1980s?
Policy Makers, Spurred
by Ozone Treaty,
Consider Tackling ‘Greenhouse Effect’
WALL STREET JOURNAL, Sept. 17, 1987
Baker Urges Steps on Global Warming; Reduce Emissions,
Energy Efficiency, Reforestation Recommended
WASHINGTON POST, Jan. 31, 1989
U.S., in a Shift, Seeks Treaty on Global Warming
NEW YORK TIMES, May 12, 1989
World Leaders to Focus on Environment at
Economic Summit, Document Shows
WALL STREET JOURNAL, July 7, 1989
House and Senate Recognize a Pork Barrel When They
See One, Warm to the Environment
WALL STREET JOURNAL, Aug. 16, 1989
Industrial Nations Can’t Reach Pact to Fight Warming
WALL STREET JOURNAL, Nov. 8, 1989
Opinion
PollPoll
1990Public
Public
Opinion
Union of Concerned Scientists
1990
Union of Concerned Scientists
Question:
Because of their concerns about global warming, many
industrialized countries have recently made commitments
to limit or reduce their amount of carbon dioxide from
fossil fuels released into the air. The Bush administration
believes that scientific predictions of global warming are
too uncertain and refuses to commit the U.S. to any such
carbon dioxide limit. Do you believe that the U.S. should
join other industrialized countries in committing to carbon
dioxide emissions limits, or should we wait for greater
scientific certainty before making a commitment?
Join other countries
U.S. should wait
69%
26%
The unequivocal
detection of the
enhanced
greenhouse
effect from
observations is
not likely for a
decade or more.
- IPCC, 1990
1990
Jan. 6,
1992
The unequivocal
detection of the
enhanced
greenhouse
effect from
observations is
not likely for a
decade or more.
- IPCC, 1990
The
balance of
evidence
suggests a
discernable
human
influence
on global
climate.
- IPCC,
1995
1995
What do these newspaper headlines communicate
leading up to the Kyoto Conference in December 1997?
Industry Expects Economic Havoc Following Carbon Emissions Cuts
CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTE, Oct. 6, 1997
Exxon Urges Developing Nations to Shun Environmental Curbs Hindering Growth
WALL STREET JOURNAL, Nov. 14, 1997
Clinton Struggles to Appease all Sides Over Climate Proposals
NATURE, Oct. 30, 1997
Waning Influence Provokes Green Groups’ Frustration
NATURE, Nov. 20, 1997
Public Backs Tough Steps for a Treaty on Warming
NEW YORK TIMES, Nov. 28, 1997
Climate Change: EU Still in the Vanguard on the Eve of the Kyoto Conference
EUROPEAN REPORT, Nov. 28, 1997
Industrialized, Developing Nations Clash at Kyoto Climate Change Talks
OIL AND GAS JOURNAL, Dec. 1,1997
China Attacks Proposed Gas Curbs
FINANCIAL TIMES OF LONDON, Dec. 6, 1997
Ford Shifts on Global Warming: Automaker Decides to Quit Coalition Battling Kyoto Treaty
THE WASHINGTON POST, Dec. 7, 1997
The unequivocal
detection of the
enhanced
greenhouse effect
from observations
is not likely for a
decade or more.
- IPCC, 1990
The balance of
evidence suggests
a discernable
human influence
on global climate.
There is new
and stronger
evidence that
most of the
warming
observed
over the last
50 years is
attributable
to human
activities.
- IPCC, 2001
- IPCC, 1995
2001
2001
April 9,
2001
1987
2001
What do these headlines communicate about
government response to global warming in 2002 and
2003?
U.S. Sees Problems in Climate
Change: Report, a Shift for Bush,
Says Nation Will Need to Adapt
NEW YORK TIMES, June 8, 2002
Senate Committee Approves Bill Mandating Big Cute in Emissions
NEW YORK TIMES, June 28, 2002
State Officials Ask Bush to Act on Global Warming
NEW YORK TIMES, July 17, 2002
McCain and Lieberman Offer Bill to Require Cuts in Gases
NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 9, 2003
Panel of Experts Faults Bush Plan to Study Climate
NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 26, 2003
The Warming is Global but the Legislation, in the U.S., Is All Local
NEW YORK TIMES, June 28, 2002
2004
2004
Oct. 3,
2005
2006
The unequivocal
detection of the
enhanced
greenhouse effect
from observations
is not likely for a
decade or more.
- IPCC, 1990
The balance of
evidence suggests
a discernable
human influence
on global climate.
- IPCC 1995
,
There is new and
stronger evidence
that most of the
warming observed
over the last 50
years is attributable
to human activities.
- IPCC, 2001
Warming of the
climate system is
unequivocal.
- IPCC, 2007
Most of the
observed
increase in
globally
averaged
temperatures
since the mid20th century is
very likely
(greater than
90% probability)
due to the
observed
increase in
anthropogenic
greenhouse gas
concentrations
- IPCC, 2007
Washington Post-ABC News Poll
December 13, 2009
Question:
Do you think most scientists agree
with one another about whether or not
global warming is happening, or do
you think there is a lot of disagreement
among scientists on this issue?
Most scientists agree
There is a lot of disagreement
among scientists
35
___%
64
___%
What significant trends or developments appear in
these
New York Times headlines from 2007 to 2010?
Public Remains Split on Response to Warming
April 27, 2007
Gore Shares Peace Prize for Climate Change Work
Oct. 13, 2007
Melting Pace of Glaciers is Accelerating, Report Says
March 20, 2008
Survey Shows Gap Between Scientists and the Public
July 10, 2009
Obama Aide Concedes Climate Law Must Wait
Oct. 3, 2009
In Face of Skeptics, Experts Affirm Climate Peril
Dec. 7, 2009
Global and Local Concerns Meet in ‘Hopenhagen’
Dec. 11, 2009
China Insists That Its Steps on Climate Be Voluntary
Jan. 30, 2010
What criticisms of the Copenhagen
Summit and leadership on
global
warming are reflected in these
editorial cartoons?
What trends or developments do you see
reflected in these magazine covers?
2004
2005
2006
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2008
2010
What trends or developments do you see
reflected in these magazine covers?
What changes do you see
in public opinion on global warming?
Is there solid evidence the earth is warming?
(Pew Center)
YES: April 2008 – 71% October 2009 – 57%
----------------------------
How serious a problem is global warming?
(Pew Center)
VERY SERIOUS: January 2007 – 44% October 2009 – 35%
----------------------------
Global warming is a very serious problem and should be one
of the highest priorities for government leaders.
(CBS/New York Times)
AGREE: April 2007 – 52% December 2009 – 37%
----------------------------
The seriousness of global warming is generally exaggerated.
(Gallup)
AGREE: March 2006 – 30% March 2009 – 41%
What do you notice about public opinion
and political affiliation?
---------------------------Do you believe in global warming? (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll, Dec.
2007)
YES: Democrats – 83%
Republicans – 46%
% who agreed,
by political affiliation
---------------------------Global warming is exaggerated. (Gallup, March 2009)
What have you learned from this
history about the science, politics,
and media representation of
global warming?
What are the ways that you
can seek more informed truths
when evaluating scientific claims
made in the media?
Identify scientific credibility through asking:
To what degree has the science been peer-reviewed?
How many of scientists/studies have corroborated the information?
Is the source credible? What are its (his/her/their) biases?
How do my own biases influence my response to this information?
Think critically about any media message by asking:
Who produced and who sponsored this message?
What is the purpose of this message and who is the target audience?
What ideas, information, and perspectives are communicated?
What has been left out that may be important to know?
How credible, current, and accurate is the information?
Who might benefit and who might be harmed by this message?
How do my own biases influence my understanding of this message?
What are your views?
Is global warming happening?
Is it caused by humans?
How serious a threat is it?
What should we do about it?