[ad_1]
KSHB (Ch. 41) meteorologist Gary Lezak.
Gary Lezak, a long-time meteorologist, responded to criticisms he received on social media after posting comments that some thought were dismissive of climate crisis.
Lezak, the chief meteorologist for Kansas City’s NBC affiliate station KSHB 41, issued a clarifying statement on Tuesday.
“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.
He continued his post, writing, “I follow the science on this issue. It is something I have been reporting on for many years. I appreciate how many of you jumped into the conversation and showed great passion for the subject.”
Lezak then shared a Link to his reporting on climate changeTo show his history on this topic, he started nine years ago.
What criticisms is Lezak responding?
Tuesday’s comment by Lezak about the climate crisis sparked discussion on social media.
“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 TweetedThis week, I answered a question on climate change earlier in the week.
Twitter users expressed disappointment at the statement. Many pointed out that Lezak’s climate crisis directly impacts local weather events.
“So much about this is wrong, backwards, and downright dangerous. Very disappointed to hear this from you,” said one commenter. Others shared similar concerns.
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 globe. This is the new responsibility.. Even KSHB selbst I wrote a pieceDecember, linking climate crisis and recent extreme weather events. Lezak wasn’t involved in 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 for restrictions on the state’s renewable energy industryHe has a history of claiming global warming is not a serious threat from human activity.
How dangerous is climate change to Kansas City’s security?
Climate change is a subject of scientific consensus This is a serious riskfor all human life on Earth. Although Kansas City is unlikely not to be affected by certain threats, like rising sea levels and flooding, it is already feeling impacts from a warming planet resulting from greenhouse gas emissions.
A Recent reportThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC), concluded that current actions taken by governments and corporations around the world to reduce global warming are inadequate to avoid severe consequences such as extreme weather.
Lezak’s comment was especially notable due to his own innovations in long-term weather modeling. His Lezak Recurring Cycle (LRC), model is Used by meteorologists across the countryWeather events can be predicted up to one year in advance by using predictable annual patterns.
Lezak’s recent comment was made during A discussion on LRC predictions over the past decades, 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 in Kansas City are currently working on a draft of the city’s Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan, a citywide initiative to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2040. Tuesday, April 12, was last day to make comments before the Climate Protection Steering Committee finalizes your plan.
A Recent community events hosted by Kansas City’s chapter of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led environmental organization, formulated 35 policy proposalsFor the final version of this plan, click here. The group aims to center low-income communities and communities of color in the city’s mission towards climate resilience.
Are you looking for more information about climate action in Kansas City, Missouri? Ask the Service Journalism team. [email protected].
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.
[ad_2]
