[Joint Statement by Weather Forecasters and Weathercasters on the Climate Crisis on the World Environment Day]

“Communicating the Connection between Extreme Weather and Climate Change”.  – Meteorologists and weather casters can be a bridge to improve public understanding of the climate crisis.

As climate change becomes more and more serious, weather forecasts and news reports could provide a great opportunity to the audience to become aware of the causes of the extreme weather. On June 5, 2024, “World Environment Day”, weather forecasters and weather casters throughout Japan have issued the “Joint Statement of Weather Forecasters and Weather Casters on the Climate Crisis”. It was a very important press conference that paved the way for accelerating to “improve understanding of the climate change issues, aiming to connect the impacts of climate change in extreme weather”, as well as to make the thoughts of weather forecasters and weather casters known to a wide audience.

Media is Hope connected with Ms. Hiroko Ida and Mr. Akira Masaki, who called for the statement, and was involved in the launch of this project. We worked with weather casters, experts, and the United Nations Organization to support study sessions and press conferences for the media & weather forecasters. We hope to continue supporting efforts to communicate and report on the connections between weather and climate change.

▶️Press release of the press conference
▶️Full text of the joint statement and list of supporters (PDF)

Ms. Hiroko Ida and Mr. Akira Masaki, who called for the joint statement, explained how the statement came to be and also shared the results of a survey of 130 weather forecasters that was conducted in advance. They revealed that 99% of the 130 respondents were concerned with climate change issues, and over 90% had a sense of crisis about climate change in weather information. They mentioned that, as extreme weather and heat continues, it is now possible to communicate the background to it, climate change, and also that meteorologists and weather casters can be the bridge to deliver that connection.

▶ ️As background for this press conference, we held a study session for the media and meteorologists on “communicating the connaction between weather and climate change”. Please see the link for more information.
[Study Session for Media and Weather forecasters “Current status of communication connecting weather and climate change” held @Tokyo]

▶️ The survey results.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S3K5-fBVLCRUYIBhXyI8v-amhkiAWvQA/edit

Eight nationally active weather reporters throughout Japan, including Ms. Ida and Mr. Masaki attended the event. They spoke about the importance of reporting on the connection between weather and climate change. As weather experts who are exposed to daily changing weather conditions, spoke powerfully about the conflicts and impatience they feel, as well as their determination and resolve for future reporting. It made us feel that there were signs of a change in the way climate change reporting is done.

The announcement of the joint statement by the weather forecasters and weather casters was definitely an opportunity for the audience to see climate change as their own issue. It will help increase awareness of the issue and encourage solutions in the future. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the meteorologists and weather casters who face, struggle with, and work on this issue on a daily basis, and to all those who have cooperated with us.

Media Coverage: This is a summary of media coverage by TV stations and other media outlets.
https://media-is-hope.org/en/news/238/