While touting a new People magazine story about his recent trip to Alaska to warn of the dangers of climate change, during the Third Hour Today show on Thursday, NBC weatherman Al Roker lectured “climate deniers” to abandon their skepticism and think “about your grandchildren and your children.”
“We’ve got Mr. Cool right here, in People magazine, talking about climate change,” fellow 9:00 a.m. ET hour co-host and meteorologist Dylan Dreyer gushed at the beginning of the discussion. She added: “It’s really awesome that they picked it up and what you did....up in Alaska.” Co-host Craig Melvin praised: “That’s a great spread, too.”
An image appeared on screen of the glossy magazine profile with the headline: “Al Roker’s Climate Crusade.” The sub-headline cheered: “An outspoken activist on global warming, the Today weatherman heads to Alaska to expose the effects of Climate Change.” A pull-quote featured from Roker urged: “We have to take action.”
Roker fondly recalled that the writer he talked to from People, Casey Baker, “just really loves climate and was very excited about what we were doing.”
Melvin applauded his colleague’s activism on the issue: “I do love that you have made this – and your platform is massive – I love that you have made this your cause.”
It was at that point that Roker climbed atop his soapbox and admonished “climate deniers” who had a difference of opinion:
Well, look, I think it’s – even if you’re one of these climate deniers, if you don’t care about yourself, how about your grandchildren and your children? Because this is an issue. I was so thrilled Prince Harry yesterday mentioning that the two things that he’s most concerned about, mental health and climate change. It’s a big deal. It’s happening. And what we tried to bring to people that, what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. It is affecting our entire planet.
Roker has indeed spent years pushing the climate change agenda. In December, he even preached that it was a “sin” not to address the issue.
Here is a transcript of the April 11 exchange:
9:04 AM ET
(...)
DYLAN DREYER: We’ve got Mr. Cool right here, in People magazine, talking about climate change. It’s really awesome that they picked it up and what you did up in...AL ROKER: I didn’t know it was coming out.
DREYER: ...up in Alaska.
CRAIG MELVIN: That’s a great spread, too.
DREYER: You didn't know?
ROKER: Well, yeah, I did an interview with the reporter, but I guess I forgot about it. [Laughter]
SHEINELLE JONES: So what did they focus on, just the fact that you were there?
ROKER: Yeah, yeah. And she was – just really loves climate and was very excited about what we were doing, and we were very grateful to People magazine for – I can’t remember the name of the reporter now, I’m blanking out. Hold on, let me just [gets up and walks over to wall screen] – her name is on the bottom of the article there. Hold on. It’s – Casey Baker. Okay, Casey Baker. Thank you very much.
JONES: You just about gave the photographer over here a heart attack. He was trying to, like, chase you around.
MELVIN: I will say, and I’ve said this to you before on the air and off, I do love that you have made this – and your platform is massive – I love that you have made this your cause.
ROKER: Well, look, I think it’s – even if you’re one of these climate deniers, if you don’t care about yourself, how about your grandchildren and your children? Because this is an issue. I was so thrilled Prince Harry yesterday mentioning that the two things that he’s most concerned about, mental health and climate change. It’s a big deal. It’s happening. And what we tried to bring to people that, what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. It is affecting our entire planet.
(...)
