Tuesday evening, the BFMTV weather presenter explained that France was going to “burn” under the effect of the heat wave, contrasting with the usual tone of the section.
For many climatologists and activists fighting against climate change, the media treats episodes of extreme heat too lightly, in particular by illustrating them with holidaymakers sunbathing.
Making the link between climate change and weather, adopting a more striking color code… How can the media better educate their audience?
“People have to understand that France, clearly, is going to burn out this week.
No need for an air conditioner on the BFMTV set, Marc Hay's punchline was enough to bring the temperature down.
The channel's weatherman explained on Tuesday evening that he had changed his tone, which he considered "a bit zero", to be more cash on the risks linked to the early heat wave affecting France.
And thus better concern its public on global warming.
At the same time, several activists denounced on social networks the illustrations of several media, having chosen photos of vacationers at the beach to represent the heat wave.
“It gives a narrow vision of the problem”, end Robert Vautard, climatologist and member of the authors of the IPCC, “like café terraces in winter when there is mildness”.
The expert points to the "essential role" of the media in highlighting the serious and long-term consequences of this type of episode.
“There is always a positive bias on questions of heat waves”, which does not exist during floods, points out Lola Vallejo, director of the climate program at IDDRI.
Between horse chestnut, information, awareness, alarm and the need to keep a light tone, the media sometimes get a bit lost.
Limits of the color code
A few years ago, Evelyne Déliah presented, in a desire to raise awareness, on TF1 a summer weather forecast for 2050: more than 40°C in the South, 38°C in Lille but only 26°C in Brittany.
Almost enviable today, after the hottest five years on record.
What make you want to color the Météo-France map in black?
In April, some maps of India, which experienced temperatures above 50°C, even showed… white!
These maps "are used to convey scientific concepts" first, even if it means becoming "incomprehensible to the general public", smiles Robert Vautard.
And even on the brown that appeared in France, “we risk getting used to this color code”, estimates Lola Vallejo, director of the climate program at IDDRI.
The weather forecast for 2050 by Evelyne Déliah.
Well, it's only 2022 and it's already below.
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The current heat wave does not escape this need for striking representation.
“Usually, the media contact us the same day.
There, we were contacted a week before “to decipher the meteorological phenomenon, he breathes.
Sensitized over the years and by the latest IPCC report, journalists are getting in tune and increasingly relaying the words of scientists to the general public.
Robert Vautard indicates the efforts of the Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute to set up tools to “make the link between climate change and the events we are experiencing” in real time, an operation that is sometimes difficult.
Drive out climate skeptics and stay measured
However, this approach must be maintained over time.
“Has BFM stopped advertising big cars?
laughs Robert Vautard.
In fact, less than twenty-four hours after the rant of its weather presenter, the continuous news channel invited Sylvie Brunel on its set, criticized for its climatosceptic positions.
“Don’t panic”, then trumpeted the one who represents “obscurantism with a human face” according to Greenpeace spokesperson Clément Sénéchal.
"You must not be catastrophist," tempers Nathalie Huret, director of the Clermont-Ferrand Earth Physics Observatory, who does not want to "scare".
And be careful not to confuse climate and weather.
Talking about a heat wave a week in advance, "it's still forecasting", reminds Robert Vautard.
"If the temperatures are lower than expected, if the forecast is not perfect, everyone would doubt climate change", which is assessed over the long term and on a global scale.
Heat waves “will be longer and more intense”, and become “a component of our life”.
The issue therefore lies elsewhere.
Like the reports on café terraces open in winter, the chestnut tree of city dwellers in search of public fountains has died.
It's not about tanning, but "fragile people" who can suffer greatly from the heat, stings Lisa Vallejo.
"We need journalists trained in the climate," hopes Nathalie Huret.
"There should be a weather section and a climate section each time" in the newspapers, even dreams of the one that operates under the dual supervision of the Clermont-Auvergne University and the CNRS, recalling that extreme climatic events, "there are continuously around the planet” now.
And continue to do subjects on the climate, even when it is not France which is affected by the heat or the snow.
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