Climate change deniers should not be given a place in business coverage at a time when industries from agriculture to insurance are making real financial decisions dealing with its impact, according to some of the nation’s top business journalists.
Joe Strupp of Media Matters for America writes, “With climate scientists in agreement that climate change is occurring and being triggered by human activity, major companies are acknowledging and evaluating the impact of that change on their businesses. Top consulting groups have pointed out that climate change is a major risk to insurance companies, and a 2011 survey found that most investors now consider climate change consequences across their organization’s entire investment portfolio.
“In spite of this emerging consensus among business leaders that climate change is a real concern for their companies, Media Matters found that 24 of the 47 substantial mentions or segments on climate change in 2013 on CNBC, or about 51 percent, cast doubt on whether man-made climate change even existed. Prominent CNBC figures have claimed that climate change is simple ‘a scam analysis’ by ‘high priests.’ More than 14,000 people have signed Forecast The Facts’ petition calling urging CNBC’s executives to stop their network from promoting climate change denial.
“Kevin Hall, McClatchy national economics correspondent and president of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, said that CNBC’s promotion of climate denial is unusual.
“‘I don’t see a lot of evidence that deniers get a lot of ink,’ he said. ‘I think it is in the broader political debate. The insurance industry hasn’t waited to see if this is going to be correct or not, they are making certain assumptions, they are acting accordingly, they are not doubting it, their livelihood depends on it.'”
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