23 March 2021. The KLIMA° vor acht initiative has addressed an open letter to the Chairman of ARD, Tom Buhrow. Together with numerous prominent initial signatories, the letter calls on ARD to provide climate coverage that is commensurate with the scale of the crisis.
Around 180 prominent figures from the worlds of science, culture and the media are among the first signatories of the letter. They include two of Germany’s best-known climate researchers, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber and Stefan Rahmstorf, the ARD meteorologist Karsten Schwanke, Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, an environmental scientist and honorary president of the Club of Rome; the aspiring astronaut and climate researcher Insa Thiele-Eich; Wolfgang Niedecken (BAP); presenter Katrin Bauerfeind; and the actors Bastian Pastewka, Annette Frier and Matthias Matschke. They all support the call for a regular programme on climate issues on public-service broadcasting. Many organisations, including the WWF, the German Nature Conservation Ring – the umbrella organisation for German nature, animal and environmental protection organisations – and GLS Gemeinschaftsbank, have also signed the petition.
“Tom Buhrow has the opportunity to establish climate coverage as a fixture on German television and thereby ensure that this crucial issue for our future is given the prominence it deserves in the television landscape,” said Friederike Mayer of KLIMA° vor acht. Further signatures are being collected at www.klimavoracht.de.
Analysis shows: Climate change is merely a peripheral issue
A study of the public service television programme by KLIMA° vor acht e.V. has shown that, out of 13,079 programmes broadcast on Das Erste in 2020, only 128 dealt with the topic of ‘climate’ (excluding repeats) – not even one per cent. Even a programme such as “Wissen vor acht” addressed the climate crisis only ten times out of 227 episodes in the same year. “This shows that a regular primetime programme providing scientifically based information on interrelationships and current events is long overdue,” says Mayer.
About the project
The non-profit association KLIMA° vor acht e.V. has set itself the aim of advancing climate coverage on German television. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign in September 2020, the volunteer members are currently working on six pilot episodes for a 3–5‑minute TV format. The episodes are expected to be filmed in April and broadcast shortly afterwards on a popular video platform.
Press enquiries and further information:
Friederike Mayer
Tel: 0176 20071497
Norman Schumann
Tel: 0178 4086086
Email: presse@klimavoracht.de
Website: https://www.klimavoracht.de
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