Forecast the Facts: National Campaign challenges climate deniers

We have reported in the past on the stance that some local meteorologists have taken on the issue of global warming.

As we have noted, former WOOD TV 8 meteorologist Craig James and current channel 8 meteorologist Bill Steffens have not been shy about their belief that there is no evidence that humans have caused global warming.

Some might conclude that this is a reflection of the conservative mindset of West Michigan. However, according to the group Forecast the Facts, “A recent study found that 27% of TV meteorologists call global warming a “scam,” while over half deny that humans are the cause.”

The level of denial in the US and amongst meteorologists led to the creation of Forecast the Facts. The group is, “dedicated to ensuring that Americans hear the truth about climate change: that temperatures are increasing, human activity is largely responsible, and that our world is already experiencing the effects.”

So far, Forecast the Facts has challenged the climate-denying message of the Heartland Institute, a right-wing think tank that has been at the forefront of climate denial in the US. Forecast the Facts has a campaign to get corporations to end their funding to the Heartland Institute, a campaign that has already resulted in 19 companies pulling their funding.

In addition, Forecast the Facts is monitoring meteorologists all across the country with their Weathercast Watch campaign. This campaign is designed to first find out where the weather-casting community stands of global warming and second, to develop a strategy to shift the national perspective to one where there is agreement that humans are causing global warming.

One component of this strategy is to get the American Meteorological Society to take a strong stance on this issue. The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is developing a new official statement on climate change, a process that happens once every five years. Forecast the Facts wants you to pressure the AMS by signing an online petition directed at the American Meteorological Society.