Hurricane Beryl and the media’s cowardly reporting on climate-related disasters

This article is part of illuminem Editorial's ongoing commentary on current sustainability issues

Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, wreaked havoc across the Caribbean and the United States last week, causing unprecedented damage. Formed on June 28, 2024, Beryl rapidly intensified, devastating Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique before making landfall in Texas. By July 2, it had reached peak winds of 165 mph, causing over $30 billion in damages, leaving millions without power, and leading to significant flooding in Houston. AccuWeather’s Hurricane Center says, "The preliminary report says that the brunt of the loss comes from the damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, facilities, roadways, and vehicles."

Despite the disaster's magnitude, even in-depth media reports from The New York Times and The Washington Post, almost exclusively refer only to the immediate damages and sensational headlines, failing to communicate the crucial context of climate change and the associated risks we will face in the very near future. The past week’s stories rightly outline the storm’s immediate impacts, notably the power outages currently affecting 2.7 million customers in Houston and extensive flooding in Vermont. However, these reports rarely mention climate change. When they do, it is in passing, not making the connection between rising global temperatures and the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes, among other natural disasters. 

In Houston, the aftermath of Beryl was devastating. "Rising waters swallowed parts of interstates, turned lazy bayous into rapids, led to dozens of frantic water rescues, and claimed at least one life," reports The Washington Post. It only highlights the city's struggle with flooding: "Houston has a serious flooding problem that could grow as climate change supercharges storms and intensifies rainfall," the Post continues, but fails to address the broader context. This kind of sensationalist reporting, lacking fundamental knowledge about the mechanisms of the climate crisis, is unclear about how climate change increases the frequency of natural catastrophes. 

Why should the context be considered? Because without a clear understanding of how climate change contributes to the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, the everyday terrified citizen will be less likely to support necessary policy measures aimed at mitigation and adaptation. It’s not about activist journalism, but about comprehensive reporting. Shallow immediate panic about crises can overshadow the need for long-term strategies to address the root causes. Houston is a prime example, with billions of dollars invested in flood control projects, yet still highly vulnerable to flooding and the increasing impact of climate change. 

A significant factor behind this inadequate coverage is the psychological barrier faced by both journalists and the public when confronting climate change. Noted German journalist and media manager Wolfgang Blau has argued for years that many people, including journalists, shy away from examining the topic deeply because of fear. The crisis's overwhelming nature leads to collective psychological repression. A pervasive panic about being labelled as activists prevents journalists from addressing climate issues urgently and thoroughly. The resulting reporting is not “neutral” or “apolitical” but fragmentary, leaving us underinformed about the real scale and implications of events like Hurricane Beryl.

There are reasons for this tendency, and far be it to blame the journalists themselves. A new report published by UNESCO on World Press Freedom Day 2024 reveals that "at least 749 journalists or news media reporting on environmental issues have been attacked in the last 15 years, and online disinformation has surged dramatically in this period." Furthermore, in a consultation of over 900 environmental journalists from 129 countries carried out by UNESCO in March 2024, "70% reported experiencing attacks, threats or pressure linked to their reporting." This hostile environment, marked by physical violence, online harassment, and legal attacks, which disproportionately affect female journalists, hampers the ability of journalists to report freely and accurately. These dangers can be addressed on various fronts. Governments can enforce stronger legal protections and ensure swift justice for crimes against journalists. Media organisations have a responsibility, not just a mandate, to ensure safety training and support systems for their staff. And, international bodies like UNESCO should continue advocating for journalist safety and freedom of expression, alongside launching initiatives to counter online disinformation and harassment

Sarah Gordon, former FT business editor, underscores a need for change in a commentary on The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ): "Without a different approach from the media, initiatives such as GFANZ may not succeed. If they don’t, the battle against climate change will not be won. And this is one battle where there are no winners, only losers."

Hurricane Beryl’s devastation serves as both a wake-up call and an indictment of our media’s failure to connect the dots between extreme weather and climate change. We need an environment where  journalists do not need to shy away from the hard truths, where they are able to provide the context that allows the public to understand the full scope of the climate crisis. Only then can we hope to build the necessary public and political will to mitigate the impacts of climate change and prepare for the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters.