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File photo of Gary Lezak, KSHB meteorologist, who caused controversy on social media by making a comment about climate.
Channel 41
Gary Lezak, a local forecaster, stirred social media discussion Tuesday with a comment on the climate crisis.
“I think there are benefits to a warmer climate, more than if the Earth were turning colder. I don’t believe there is an emergency. It’s a very long term gradual process,” Lezak, the chief meteorologist for Kansas City’s NBC affiliate station KSHB 41, Twitter: PostedIn response to a question regarding climate change, earlier this week.
Many people expressed dismay on Twitter at the statement. They pointed out that the climate crisis has direct effects on local weather events Lezak covers in detail.
“So much about this is wrong, backwards, and downright dangerous. Very disappointed to hear this from you,” said one commenter. Others shared similar concerns.
On Tuesday, April 12, he issued a clarification statement. “I want to thank all the folks who responded to my response on Twitter to a climate question. I thought it would be helpful to clarify. Climate change is something I take very seriously. Climate change is, without question, a serious problem,” he wrote.
Here’s a closer look at why Lezak’s statement struck a nerve, and what climate experts say on the issue.
Is climate reporting a weather forecaster’s job?
Lezak’s controversial comment is part of a larger conversation around whether meteorologists, who typically focus on daily and weekly weather events, have a responsibility to connect broader weather patterns to global warming.
Many forecasters are worried about the impact of extreme weather events on the world. This is the new responsibility.. Even KSHB selbst Write a pieceDecember, linking climate crisis and recent extreme weather events. Lezak was not part of the article.
Multiple commenters online likened Lezak’s statement to Kansas state legislator Mike ThompsonA Shawnee Republican, Thompson, who used to be a meteorologist for Fox4 News. Thompson has pushed to restrictions on the state’s renewable energy industryHe has a history in which he claims that global warming is not a serious threat to human activity.
What is the threat to Kansas City from climate change?
Scientific consensus points to climate-change. This is a serious riskfor all human life on Earth. Although Kansas City is unlikely be affected by certain threats like rising sea levels, it is already feeling some of the effects of a warming planet due to greenhouse gas emissions.
A Recent reportThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), found that the current actions of world governments and corporations to reduce global warming are not sufficient to prevent serious consequences such as extreme weather events.
Lezak’s comment was especially notable due to his own innovations in long-term weather modeling. His Lezak Recurring Cycle (LRC) model is Use by meteorologists all over the countryForecasts can be made up to a year ahead of time using predictable annual patterns.
Lezak’s recent comment was made during Discussion of LRC predictions for the past decade, leading him to note that “right now there are strong signs the Earth is warming.”
What can I do in Kansas City to combat climate change?
Officials are now accepting public comments on the draft Climate Protection and Resiliency plan. This is a citywide initiative to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2040. Tuesday, April 12, is the last day for comments. The current draftBefore the Climate Protection Steering Committee finalizes the plan.
Two ways to submit comments are possible. You can also submit comments online if you feel comfortable giving feedback publically for everyone to see. Through this page. You can also email your suggestions to [email protected]Call 816-513-34509.
A Recent community events hosted by Kansas City’s chapter of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led environmental organization, formulated 35 policy suggestionsThe final version is available here. The group aims to center low-income communities and communities of color in the city’s mission towards climate resilience. It offered no official comment on Lezak’s statement.
“We aren’t in the business of debating climate deniers,” spokesperson Raymond Forstater told The Star.
Do you have questions about climate action? Ask the Service Journalism team. [email protected].
This story was first published in April 12, 2022 at 3:48 p.m.
Natalie Wallington is a reporter on the Star’s service desk covering government programs, community resources, COVID-19 data and environmental action among other topics. Her journalism has appeared previously in the Washington Post and Audubon Magazine, Popular Science Magazine, VICE News, among others.
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