“Deadly landslide hit Europe, at least 31 people washed away and dozens missing as storm hits southern part of Morocco, severe storms, flash floods and damaging winds leave Argentina’s capital in the dark...” The list goes on and on. Finally, I thought, an opportunity to connect the dots, a chance to talk earnestly about climate change issues. I sat there waiting for the news to bring it up; I looked online for any sign of recognition. Nothing.
Instead of covering climate-related deaths with the same weight as a murder or victims of a violent conflict, it was brushed over like a nihility. The deaths caused by extreme weather is somehow categorised under the ‘weather’ section and given no particular news value.
I was stunned, even when climate change is coming to the ‘developed world’, even when it is causing such destruction and misery in our own front yard, it is still not worthy of substantial coverage? My hope was on tabloid news outlets. At least they would cover it I thought, mongering as they are for exaggerated headlines and “Global Climate Death-toll Rises” would be a recognition of its importance, but alas, nothing.
The G20 is taking up much of the worthwhile space and voice of the mainstream media. The world’s richest 20 countries met in Australia to strengthen their collective power on the world stage, and of course pose with koalas - because the world is undoubtedly a better place after holding a fluffy, little animal dozy on eucalyptus leaves. No offence to the koalas.
The main result from the G20 meeting was an agreement to boost the world economy through infrastructure investment and lowering of trade barriers. Without questioning the legitimacy of the measures in terms of their actual global benefits or how realistic is to think that the G20 countries will even implement them, I question the continuous and ridiculous focus on economic means as the all encompassing answer to all questions. So far, the G20 as a group and as individual countries along with the mainstream media, shows no interest or even disinterest in addressing the issues of climate change.
There is no recognition of responsibility or the necessity to take proactive measures for a sustainable future. There isn’t even a recognition of the people who are suffering the loss of their loved ones, of their homes or livelihoods, even though they are suffering due to the same reasons as those in Europe, Morocco, the Middle East, Central America, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
- The reader is a Swedish writer based in Malmo, Sweden.
