It is no secret that much of the news coverage is a morass of negativity. This is especially true when it comes to one topic: Climate Change.  Read any story about climate change, and the headline usually screams: “Earth’s temperature shatters records!” or “Nation’s leaders must act fast within the next few years to avoid catastrophe!”.

When people are inundated with these negative articles whenever they read the news, it’s no wonder that many people express anxiety about climate change.  It’s certainly a contributing factor to the long running view that things in this country are going in the wrong direction, even now, when the economic health of our country is strong.  But amidst the deluge of doomsday headlines is evidence of real progress on climate change.  United Kingdom scientist Hannah Ritchie in particular has written a book and has written articles about such progress.

An example of the progress that Ritchie highlights is that per capita emissions per person has declined, and that global emissions have slowed down and are projected to begin reversing in the next half decade.  She mentions that currently, the projected rise in global temperatures by 2100 has been reduced from 6 degrees Celsius, to 2.5-3 degrees Celsius, all because of climate policies that countries have undertaken.  While an increase of 2.5 degrees Celsius will still cause undue suffering for people around the globe, the fact that projections have been halved is remarkable.  The temperature rise will continue to fall to close to a 2 degree increase if countries continue to enact climate friendly policies.  The reason that emissions rates are slowing down is that contrary to what people think, the carbon footprint of the average person today is half what it was 50 years ago.  This decline is due to the proliferation of efficient technology such as better insulation and cars having better gas mileage.

I should note that what I have just written by no means diminishes the work that needs to be done.  Nor is it whitewashing the issues that are occurring with climate change.  My point is that the concrete evidence of progress on that subject, or on anything positive does not get enough coverage.  New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff writes a piece at the end of every year reminding people of the dramatic increase in living standards, decline in childhood mortality, and decline in poverty.  Why should only be reminded of that once a year?  If media outlets were to highlight good developments on any important topic, it would help people have a brighter outlook in the world.  I can personally attest the impact that genuine good news has on my well being.  In an age where personal mental health is being discussed widely, everyone should have an interest in having a media that at the very least doesn’t exacerbate the problem.

More importantly, highlighting positive trends will help people be grounded in reality.  It is evident over the past several years how warped coverage in the right wing media ecosystem, not to mention influencers on social media have corroded people’s trust in basic facts.  Negative stories about climate issues are not as insidious as right wing stories about election fraud.  But when only 19 percent of Americans know that U.S emissions have declined by 20 percent over the past 15 years, that is an example of people believing inaccurate information.  Hannah Ritchie writes that messages highlighting the dire state of our warming planet are as damaging as climate denial, due to the fact that such rhetoric can send a message that people should just give up.

The media is not the only institution that needs to convey positive messages at times, it is also our public officials.  While there is a legitimate case to be made that President Biden sometimes boasts too much about the good state of the economy while people are not feeling the effects, this Op-Ed makes the case that with regards to climate change, politicians engage in the same catastrophizing rhetoric as the media.  The author encourages public officials to talk about the climate issue the same way FDR talked about the Great Depression¹, and for them to deliver an upbeat message to encourage people not to give up being environmentally conscious.  I would agree.  While some climate advocates see such people like Hannah Ritchie as inaccurately describing the problem, I believe that any progress creates more progress.

I believe that people seeing more good news in media outlets will only help the national psyche.  I know reading Ms. Ritchie’s articles certainly helped improve my psyche. 

1. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” for example. ↩︎