Why can’t we call it an emergency?

The authors argue that global media coverage of climate change is insufficient and fails to convey the scale of the crisis. They call for newsrooms to prioritize climate stories, use plain language to describe the threat, and treat the situation with the same urgency as the Covid-19 pandemic. The text highlights that while some outlets fear the term 'climate emergency' suggests activism, the scientific consensus demands such framing to drive the political will necessary for decarbonization.

• Most news coverage, particularly on television, continues to underplay the climate crisis, often viewing it as too controversial, disheartening, or complex.
• In the United States, a lack of frequent media exposure contributes to low public alarm; less than 25% of the public hears about climate change in the media at least once a month, and only 26% report being 'alarmed'.
• Covering Climate Now's 'Climate Emergency Statement' argues that journalism must recognize the current climate emergency as a matter of science rather than politics, drawing a comparison to the urgency with which newsrooms covered the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Some major news outlets refuse to sign the Climate Emergency Statement because they believe the phrase 'climate emergency' sounds like activism and could make the organization appear biased.

APA

Hertsgaard, M., & Pope, K. (2021). Why can’t we call it an emergency? Covering Climate Now. https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/why-cant-we-call-it-an-emergency/

Chicago

Hertsgaard, Mark, and Kyle Pope. Why can’t we call it an emergency? Covering Climate Now, 2021. https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/why-cant-we-call-it-an-emergency/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Hertsgaard |first1=Mark |last2=Pope |first2=Kyle |title=Why can’t we call it an emergency? |publisher=Covering Climate Now |date=3 June 2021 |url=https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/why-cant-we-call-it-an-emergency/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{hertsgaard2021why, author = {Hertsgaard, Mark and Pope, Kyle}, title = {{Why can’t we call it an emergency?}}, publisher = {Covering Climate Now}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/why-cant-we-call-it-an-emergency/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }