A call for truth in public broadcasting. We cannot solve a crisis we refuse to name.
Today, the NSW government declared a natural disaster in response to the devastating wave of storms sweeping across the state. Yet to call this a “natural disaster” wilfully obscures the reality of the situation. These storms are not natural phenomena. They are the direct consequence of human activity – specifically, the relentless and unregulated burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal.
It is both shameful and dangerous that the media, including publicly funded broadcasters such as the ABC, fails to fulfil its responsibility to explain this truth to the Australian public.
Acknowledging this distinction is vital to addressing the root cause of such disasters. How can people be expected to understand the urgent need for change if they are not told why it is necessary?
Declare a climate emergency
Nine years ago, concerned citizens across Australia were calling on governments to declare a climate emergency. They recognised the escalating impacts of climate change and urged leaders to act with urgency and honesty.
Yet, here we are, almost a decade later, and our leaders are still avoiding language that accurately reflects the nature of these crises.
To declare this event a “natural disaster” is not only inaccurate but also profoundly misleading. It allows the public to believe that such catastrophes are inevitable acts of nature, rather than the human-caused consequences of burning fossil fuels.
If anything, we should be calling this a ‘fossil disaster.’
The storms devastating communities today are exacerbated by the warming of our atmosphere and oceans – a warming driven by decades of fossil fuel consumption.
The science is clear, and so too should be our language.
Root causes diminished
This failure to name the problem for what it is represents a massive shortcoming not just of political leaders but also of the media, which has a duty to inform the public. And every journalist reporting on these catastrophic events carries a responsibility to tell the full story – even if it means confronting an editor who holds a different opinion.
When disasters are framed as ‘natural,’ the urgency to address their root causes is diminished. It absolves humanity of responsibility when, in truth, they are the result of human choices.
So people continue with business as usual, unaware of their role in perpetuating the crisis or of the changes needed to mitigate its impact.
By refusing to connect these storms to climate change and fossil fuel consumption, our leaders and institutions are failing to provide the clarity and accountability this moment demands.
Language shapes perception, and perception drives action. To move forward, we must hold politicians and the media accountable for telling the full story and using the right words. The public has a right to know the truth about the causes of these disasters, and until that truth is told, meaningful action will remain elusive.
It is time for our leaders to step up and face reality with courage and integrity. We cannot solve a crisis we refuse to name. Only by confronting the truth head-on can we hope to inspire the collective action needed to stop the heating and create a safer world for us all.
fires and examined climate’s fingerprint on the risk factors that led to these blazes.
→ Covering Climate Now – 16 January 2025:
A Media Miss on LA’s Mega-Fires
“Most coverage has not even mentioned climate change.”