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The Weather Channel Unveils Biggest Climate Change Stories Of The
Year
ATLANTA - Dec. 14, 2006 - It was a year that just might have changed the
national conversation on climate change. In 2006, Americans faced record
high gas prices, communities and businesses explored the economic
benefits of sustainability and media across the country brought global
warming to the fore of pop culture. On Sunday, December 17, The Weather
Channel counts down the ten biggest climate change stories of the year
on The Climate Code with Dr. Heidi Cullen from 5:00 5:30 p.m. ET.
Dr. Cullen, a climatologist formerly with the National Center for
Atmospheric Research, will investigate how changes in earths climate
affected weather, technology, government, the media, and even the
economy. But what will be the top story of the year?
Stories in the running include:
§ States and cities, no longer waiting for federal action, launching
their own climate initiatives.
§ The emergence of green evangelicals, influential business and cultural
leaders bringing attention to climate issues.
§ Global warming becomes the hot topic, showing up in network specials,
on magazine covers, and in headlines across the country.
§ As gas prices soared in the spring and summer, rising above $3 per
gallon for regular, many people had to readjust their budgets and
considered the option of buying
§ Smarter cars, those that use hydrogen, electricity, or a hybrid of
alternate fuel and gasoline. Car makers rushed to make their offerings
more visible to a newly-interested public.
§ Automakers werent alone in attempting to cash in on public interest,
and when WalMart decided to offer more organic goods, it signaled that
American business had discovered climate change.
§ At the beginning of the year, global warming was typically relegated
to the science column in the back pages, but when James Hansen
proclaimed he was asked by NASA to censor his comments on the subject,
it bounced right to the front page.
§ When Wall Street starts paying attention, you know you have made it.
If venture capitalists are right that climate change is the next dotcom,
then the issue has arrived.
§ Now that money is becoming available, technology is right in step with
advances in carbon sequestration, solar panels, and wind and hydrogen
fuel techniques.
§ Of course, The Weather Channel also has to consider climates effect on
the years weather. What role did it play in record heat, raging
wildfires, and a year when no hurricanes made landfall in the U.S.?
In addition to weekly interviews with other scientists, policy makers,
and opinion leaders, The Climate Code features segments highlighting
different aspects of the worlds climate. These features examine what
people can do to help the environment; debunk some of the popular myths
around the climate; look at how scientific understanding has changed in
recent decades; and explore technological advances that can benefit
everyone.
The Climate Code also welcomes user-generated content to give people
around the country the opportunity to share their efforts in addressing
their own local climate issues.
Since 2003, Dr. Cullen has been the lead climatologist for The Weather
Channel and a principle contributor to the networks position on global
warming. She currently writes and produces Forecast Earth headlines that
air throughout the day.
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Background
About The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel, a 24-hour weather network, is seen in more than 90
million U.S. households. Its Web site, weather.com, reaches more than 30
million unique users per month. It content is generally ranked within
the 15 most popular in the U.S. by
Nielsen//Net Ratings. The Weather Channel also operates Weatherscan, a
24-hour, all-local weather network available in 23 million households,
The Weather Channel Radio Network, The Weather Channel Newspaper
Services, and is the leading weather information provider for emerging
technologies. This includes broadband and interactive television
applications, with wireless weather products accessible through
high-speed Internet services, mobile phones and personal digital
assistants. The Weather Channel is owned by Landmark Communications,
Inc., a Norfolk, VA-based, privately held media company.
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