US Broadcasters Shun Crucial Amazon Climate Summit in Brazil

As the world gathers for the crucial UN climate conference, known as COP30, in Belém, Brazil, a concerning trend has emerged - the absence of major US television networks. According to a preliminary list released by the UN climate body, nearly 4,000 media professionals have registered to attend the event, but none of the "big four" US broadcasters - CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox - appear to have sent teams to cover the summit.

This year marks the first time the US has failed to send a delegation to the UN climate talks, with former President Donald Trump having pulled the country out of the Paris climate agreement in 2017. However, experts argue that the lack of US media presence should not be an excuse to ignore the proceedings, as "news is still happening" at the conference.

The decision by the major US networks to sit out the COP30 talks has been met with criticism, with independent media outlets like InfoAmazonia managing to cover the event despite their smaller budgets. The director of InfoAmazonia, Stefano Wrobleski, expressed his disbelief at the absence of the well-funded US broadcasters, stating, "I can't see how or why an outlet with funds would choose not to come to Brazil for this."

The decline in climate coverage by US media outlets, including the major TV networks, has been a growing concern in recent years. Last year, US corporate broadcast networks aired just 12 hours and 51 minutes of climate coverage, a 25% decrease from the previous year. This trend, coupled with the layoffs of climate reporting teams at various news organizations, has led to a worrying reduction in the public's access to crucial information about the climate crisis.