On Saturday, NBC’s Today show worried that all of the “environmental benefits” of the coronavirus pandemic “may not last” after the crisis is over. While devoting a full report to touting “cleaner air and cleaner water” due to less human activity amid global economic shutdowns, the coverage cautioned that it could all be lost “if we return to business as usual.”
“With billions of people across the globe staying put, the environment is now thriving, with cleaner air and wild animals reclaiming parts of their natural habitat,” co-host Peter Alexander announced at the top of the segment. “You know, here in New York and in many other cities around the world, even underneath the mask, if you take a deep breath, you can tell the air is cleaner and clearer,” chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson proclaimed.
The headline on screen cheered: “Back to Nature; Stay-at-Home Measures Result in Environmental Benefits.”
Thompson gushed: “From the great outdoors to the world’s great cities, the virus shutdown dramatically illustrating our impact on the planet.” Stanford University Professor Marshall Burke explained: “When we run our economies less, we pollute the environment less. And now we have seen pretty dramatic improvements in things like air quality around the world.”
“Is this a real-time experiment on our impact on the environment?,” Thompson wondered. Marshall agreed that it was, but also acknowledged the dire circumstances: “It is a real-time experiment. I don’t think it’s an experiment we wanted to run. This is not the way to clean up our environment.”
Even so, the reporter kept marveling:
Still, with fewer cars, planes and factories, the change is stunning. The murky waters of Venice’s famous canals now clear. In Wuhan, China, according to NASA, air quality improved 30%, almost 50% in Milan, Italy. Skies clearer in L.A., the Himalayas finally visible.
However, even Thompson pointed out: “Improvements coming at a horrific economic cost.”
She then turned to another environmentalist to push the idea of some changes becoming permanent and take a jab at President Trump as well: “Climate scientist Radley Horton warns the environmental benefits may not last if we return to business as usual, especially now with the Trump administration’s rollback of pollution controls, including vehicle mileage standards and Mercury and soot emissions.”
Radley proposed: “As we go forward, maybe we’ll see more people only commute into work four days a week instead of five. Maybe we’ll see people not flying as often to conferences and instead, you know, relying more on video conferences.”
Thompson concluded: “Adapting to protect ourselves and the planet.”
Following her taped report, she reminded Alexander: “Now, all this cleaner air and cleaner water comes just in time for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which will be celebrated next Wednesday.”
At the beginning of the month, NBC weatherman Al Roker joined numerous other liberal media colleagues in pushing a “silver lining” to the pandemic – pollution being “way down.”
The press never let a crisis go to waste or keep them from promoting a liberal climate change agenda.
Here is a full transcript of Thompson’s April 18 report:
7:32 AM ET
PETER ALEXANDER: Also this morning, a look at an unexpected impact to this coronavirus crisis. With billions of people across the globe staying put, the environment is now thriving, with cleaner air and wild animals reclaiming parts of their natural habitat. NBC’s chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson has more. Anne, good morning.
ANNE THOMPSON: Good morning, Peter and Kristen. You know, here in New York and in many other cities around the world, even underneath the mask, if you take a deep breath, you can tell the air is cleaner and clearer. One of the unintended consequences of the shutdown.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Back to Nature; Stay-at-Home Measures Result in Environmental Benefits]
THOMPSON: It’s a different kind of spring awakening in California’s Yosemite National Park. Black bears, bobcats, and coyotes with the place to themselves.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [PARK RANGER]: For the most part, I think they’re having a party.
THOMPSON: Without people, lions reclaimed the road in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. From the great outdoors to the world’s great cities, the virus shutdown dramatically illustrating our impact on the planet.
MARSHALL BURKE [STANFORD UNIVERSITY]: When we run our economies less, we pollute the environment less. And now we have seen pretty dramatic improvements in things like air quality around the world.
THOMPSON: Marshall Burke teaches earth systems science at Stanford University. Is this a real-time experiment on our impact on the environment?
BURKE: It is a real-time experiment. I don't think it’s an experiment we wanted to run. This is not the way to clean up our environment.
THOMPSON: Still, with fewer cars, planes and factories, the change is stunning. The murky waters of Venice’s famous canals now clear. In Wuhan, China, according to NASA, air quality improved 30%, almost 50% in Milan, Italy. Skies clearer in L.A., the Himalayas finally visible. Improvements coming at a horrific economic cost.
RADLEY HORTON: Clearly we’re going to be in a spiral here if we don’t find a way soon to reopen the economy.
THOMPSON: Climate scientist Radley Horton warns the environmental benefits may not last if we return to business as usual, especially now with the Trump administration’s rollback of pollution controls, including vehicle mileage standards and Mercury and soot emissions. But there is a way to have a strong economy and a cleaner environment.
HORTON: As we go forward, maybe we’ll see more people only commute into work four days a week instead of five. Maybe we’ll see people not flying as often to conferences and instead, you know, relying more on video conferences.
THOMPSON: Adapting to protect ourselves and the planet.
Now, all this cleaner air and cleaner water comes just in time for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which will be celebrated next Wednesday. And next week is National Parks Week, and you can be sure the animals are now enjoying those parks just as much as we do. Peter and Kristen?
ALEXANDER: Yeah, hopefully we’ll all get a chance to enjoy them again soon. Anne, thank you very much.
