Peter Lord: Politics and Science

Peter Lord is talking now. He tells us how smart governor John Chafee was about getting climate change on the agenda of local reporters. The governor would hold hearings, because reporters don't have anything to report on (e.g. general story about climate change) if there's not a hearing. He knew how to keep climate change in the news. He contrasts that with the regime that followed: Inhofe climate change speech -- required reading for all scientists.

I'm laughing right now, and it's interfering with my typing. Peter pulls no punches: Senator Inhofe is stupid. He wants us to read the climate change speech that Inhofe gave not too long ago. What a long fall from governor Chafee to Senator Inhofe!

New administrations and new regimes who take action give reporters something to write about. Reporters need to respond to editors, who want ACTION and local angles. They need something human. They need anecdotal stories -- the local guy who convinces Wal-Mart to install and promote fluorescent lights. You need to hold conferences, hearings or have events in order for long term trends in science to become "news" -- this is what drives editors.

Sports Illustrated, Ms. Magazine, Verdant Magazine -- covering climate change, 400+ stories about Earth Day on the AP -- now a lot of people are writing about the environment, particularly climate change. It's gone mainstream. This is because the political environment has changed.

Peter is a fast-talking firebrand, but his talk is over quickly.