This Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of our national radio program Climate Connect. The show was launched at a low point in mainstream media coverage of climate change, when only about 15% of Americans believed man-made global warming was an urgent threat, and was designed to get listeners talking about climate change and climate solutions .
From the beginning, the goal was to use the 90-second vignettes to show that climate action is not just the province of scientists and distant technocrats leading negotiations at U.N. meetings. Instead, anyone—including people like you—can be part of the climate story. You can hear the results in the first segment we aired, which tells the story of Atlanta Tea Party co-founder Debbie Dooley, who found common ground with the Sierra Club Goal, fights for the right of homeowners to install rooftop solar panels and sell energy to Georgia’s power grid.
Since then, we've told more than 2,500 stories of people from all walks of life experiencing the impacts of climate change and setting examples for climate action. Our team’s favorite moments include: A teen changes his stepfather’s mind about global warming; A hunter and fisherman see the effects of climate change firsthand; Aboriginal seeds help farmers adapt to a warming climate; Advocates fight for global air Working to regulate Texas prisons, a team running a polar bear 911 hotline, a scientist explaining why octopuses are showing up in Miami parking lots, a Michigan woman helping her neighbors go solar, and city dwellers using maps to fight inequality.
These stories resonated with the stations that aired the show.
“We know that environmental and climate change issues are important to Connecticut Public Broadcasting’s local and regional audiences,” said Catie Talarski, Connecticut Public Broadcasting’s senior director of storytelling and broadcast programming. She added that the climate connections section “is a great addition to our overall reporting.”
At the time of the show's launch, nearly 50 radio stations had committed to airing the show. Since then, Climate Connections has grown rapidly and now broadcasts on more than 750 frequencies, covering every state in the United States. Our partners include major stations in large urban media markets such as WHYY in Philadelphia, KPCC in Southern California, and WABE in Atlanta, as well as smaller stations throughout rural America. (In fact, two-thirds of our stations are in districts that Donald Trump won in 2020.) In total, Climate Connection receives more than 57 million listens annually.
Over the past decade, climate issues have become more urgent. Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and heat waves—with human traces everywhere—are intensifying. At the same time, everyone has more opportunities than ever to help reduce carbon pollution at all stages of life: by joining or supporting climate groups, pursuing green careers, electrifying homes and vehicles, voting, talking, lobbying, and more.
We are grateful for the support Climate Connect receives from our family of radio stations, listeners and financial supporters across the country. We continue to add more stations every year and are excited to produce and share more of these incredible stories with you. But we can't do this alone. If you are able, please make a donation today to help us celebrate our 10th anniversary. Thank you for your support!
On behalf of the Climate Connection team: ChavoBart Digital Media, Sara Peach, Pearl Marvell, Samantha Harrington, editors emeritus Bud Ward and Jan O'Brien, and our national network of environmental journalists.
cheers,
Tony
