While most people see profound tragedy in the COVID-19 pandemic, left-wing reporters and politicians see an opportunity to exploit the crisis and implement a radical agenda. On Tuesday’s Today show, NBC weatherman Al Roker and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres displayed such crassness as they pleaded for nations to use the devastating impact of the virus to force through “greener regulations” and enact “climate justice.”
Co-host Craig Melvin introduced the segment by promising that it would reveal “some valuable lessons that have been learned around the world around us during this pandemic.” Touting the network’s partnership with a group of left-wing activists, Roker proclaimed: “Through our collaboration with Covering Climate Now, we spoke to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres ahead of next week’s 75th session of the General Assembly.”
Before the taped interview began, Roker played narrator as he fondly recalled the “beautiful transformation” that the climate underwent as people around the world were forced to stay in their homes due to coronavirus concerns. He then lamented that the “silver lining” had “quickly faded” as countries reopened:
When the world went into lockdown last spring, a brief and beautiful transformation took place. Animals appearing in locations they hadn’t been seen in years. Mountains and skylines revealed after decades of shrouded in pollution. And a remarkable hopeful drop in greenhouse gas emissions, the single largest contributing factor to climate change. This silver lining, however, quickly faded as countries started opening up. But one thing became crystal clear – society can enact change and quickly.
He forgot to mention the hundreds of thousands of COVID deaths and millions unemployed worldwide. Unfortunately, that theme of cheering the supposed “silver lining” of the pandemic has been a disturbingly common talking point in the press.
Turning to Guterres, Roker teed up the U.N. chief to demand massive economic changes: “Mr. Secretary General, you’ve been very direct in your messaging talking to countries, saying they not only have to consider including greener regulations when it relates especially to COVID-19 economic stimulus. The two, you link them very closely. Why has that become such a mission?”
Guterres lectured:
I believe that we are facing a dramatic challenge with COVID-19. But this terrible challenge that has caused so much suffering and that has had a devastating impact on economies and societies is an opportunity. We need to rebuild. We need to invest massively, rebuilding. So we can either rebuild as it was, which is a huge mistake, because of the fragilities of the world. Or we can rebuild a more inclusive and a more sustainable economy and society. And for that, so that is why we’ve been recommending to have massive investments in green technologies, in green industries, in green energy.
After Roker asked about “investing in green jobs,” Guterres suggested simply doing away with the entire global fossil fuel industry:
We need to have climate justice. Which means to invest in green energy, create three times more jobs than to invest in fossil fuel energy. But at the same time, let’s have social and economic measures addressing the needs of the people that is impacted by the transformation in society, namely climate action, and make their jobs be no longer existent in the economy.
Later in the softball exchange, Roker fretted: “Paris Climate Accord, November 4th the United States is scheduled to pull out. What does that do to a global effort to reduce those emissions?” In response, Guterres placed his hope in climate crusaders like Roker:
Well, we need the United States’ contribution to climate action. And I think it’s important to say that even if the U.S. government has decided to leave the Paris agreement, we see in the U.S. an enormous movement in favor of climate action. And I am very optimistic this dynamic demonstration by the American society and the American business community will compensate for the lack of political commitment that exists at the present moment.
Speaking of radical leftists, on Wednesday, Roker conducted a fawning interview with actor and activist Jane Fonda to promote her climate hysteria.
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Here is a full transcript of the September 8 segment:
8:44 AM ET
CRAIG MELVIN: We are back, 8:44 now, with some valuable lessons that have been learned around the world around us during this pandemic. Mr. Roker’s got this one. Hey, Al.
AL ROKER: Hey, guys, thanks so much. Through our collaboration with Covering Climate Now, we spoke to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres ahead of next week’s 75th session of the General Assembly.
When the world went into lockdown last spring, a brief and beautiful transformation took place. Animals appearing in locations they hadn’t been seen in years. Mountains and skylines revealed after decades of shrouded in pollution. And a remarkable hopeful drop in greenhouse gas emissions, the single largest contributing factor to climate change. This silver lining, however, quickly faded as countries started opening up. But one thing became crystal clear – society can enact change and quickly.
In a year unlike any other, the United Nations Secretary General gives the world direction on recovery, rebuilding, and a dire warning if action isn’t taken now.
Mr. Secretary General, you’ve been very direct in your messaging talking to countries, saying they not only have to consider including greener regulations when it relates especially to COVID-19 economic stimulus. The two, you link them very closely. Why has that become such a mission?
ANTONIO GUTERRES: I believe that we are facing a dramatic challenge with COVID-19. But this terrible challenge that has caused so much suffering and that has had a devastating impact on economies and societies is an opportunity. We need to rebuild. We need to invest massively, rebuilding. So we can either rebuild as it was, which is a huge mistake, because of the fragilities of the world. Or we can rebuild a more inclusive and a more sustainable economy and society. And for that, so that is why we’ve been recommending to have massive investments in green technologies, in green industries, in green energy.
ROKER: When you talk about investing in green jobs, what are you talking about?
GUTERRES: We need to have climate justice. Which means to invest in green energy, create three times more jobs than to invest in fossil fuel energy. But at the same time, let’s have social and economic measures addressing the needs of the people that is impacted by the transformation in society, namely climate action, and make their jobs be no longer existent in the economy.
ROKER: You know, COVID and climate have really kind of stripped away the differences in societies. Where do you see us right now as a society?
GUTERRES: Well, what is dramatic is that one of the fragilities that was so clearly underlined by COVID-19 is the fragility that comes out of inequality. Inequalities in income and wealth, but also inequalities linked to gender, inequalities linked to ethnicity, to race, inequalities of all kinds. We need, to the extent possible, to eliminate them or at least to have equity and justice in the way you invest our resources when rebuilding our economies.
ROKER: Paris Climate Accord, November 4th the United States is scheduled to pull out. What does that do to a global effort to reduce those emissions?
GUTERRES: Well, we need the United States’ contribution to climate action. And I think it’s important to say that even if the U.S. government has decided to leave the Paris agreement, we see in the U.S. an enormous movement in favor of climate action. And I am very optimistic this dynamic demonstration by the American society and the American business community will compensate for the lack of political commitment that exists at the present moment.
ROKER: You know, we always look to our youth. Are you more optimistic because of this generation that’s coming up?
GUTERRES: Yes. I think it’s our best hope, is the generation that’s coming up and that understood already – and we see in so many ways around the world – and already that either we are united or we’ll be doomed.
ROKER: U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Also, tomorrow, the World Meteorological Association and the U.N. are going to be releasing their state of the climate report tomorrow. Findings expected to be fairly grim, with 2020 on track to be our hottest year on the planet ever.
MELVIN: That was a fascinating conversation. It’s good to hear that he’s optimistic, though.
ROKER: Yeah.
MELVIN: Thank you.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Al, thank you very much.
