When I met Eric Holthaus at the American Meteorological Society's convention about six months ago, he was a journalist reporting on weather for New York City to the Wall Street Journal. At the time he was a little frustrated, I think it's fair to say, because he wasn't able to talk about big picture issues like climate for the national audience. Now he's working for the interesting Quartz/Atlantic publication — and telling a big story.
In tweets this week re: the fifth assessment (on climate) from the IPCC:
I just broke down in tears in boarding area at SFO while on phone with my wife. I've never cried because of a science report before. #IPCC
I realized, just now: This has to be the last flight I ever take. I'm committing right now to stop flying. It's not worth the climate.
His tweets raise a crucial question for reporters who care about the climate — how to do more than relate facts, and find ways to dramatize our concern. I can only admire Holthaus for his decision (though I wonder how he'll cover the news, if he can't fly to conferences, such as the AMS or the AGU).
Related articles
Kit Stolz 