The media's response to the retirement of RCP8.5: A tale of silence and selective coverage
The recent announcement that the high-end climate scenarios, RCP8.5, SSP5-8.5, and SSP3-7.0, have been declared implausible by the international committee responsible for official IPCC scenarios, has sparked a debate about the media's coverage of this significant development. While the Dutch media has been proactive in reporting on this story, the English-language climate silence has been notable.
The Dutch media, particularly De Volkskrant, has taken the lead in covering this story, with a front-page headline that reads, 'UN Climate Panel Drops Doomsday Scenario'. The article highlights the potential consequences of 3.5°C warming and the need to revise forecasts. De Volkskrant's coverage also includes an interview with Detlef van Vuuren, the lead author of the ScenarioMIP paper, who acknowledges the disruptive nature of the change and the need to adjust scenarios.
The German-language media has also covered the story, with a balanced approach that acknowledges the role of extreme climate scenarios in public debate while cautioning against a fundamental re-evaluation of climate research. The Swiss outlet watson.ch and Die Welt have both published articles that highlight the impact of the retirement of RCP8.5 on scientific studies, media, and politics.
In contrast, the English-language media has been largely silent on this issue. The New York Times, the BBC, Carbon Brief, Science, Nature, and The Guardian have all failed to cover the retirement of the extreme scenarios, despite the significant implications for science, policy, and their own coverage. This silence could be attributed to lag time or the technical nature of the story, but it also raises questions about the media's investment in promoting RCP8.5 as a key narrative in climate change.
The media's response to the retirement of RCP8.5 is a fascinating tale of selective coverage and silence. While the Dutch and German media have been proactive in reporting on this story, the English-language climate silence has been notable. The implications of this silence are significant, as the media's coverage of climate change is crucial in shaping public perception and policy. The media's response to this story will be a key indicator of their commitment to accurate and comprehensive reporting on climate change.
