Tom Brokaw: Climate Change Is Real

Days before the Global Climate Talks in Durban, South Africa, NBC's Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw delivered a strong message in Silicon Valley for climate skeptics. In response to a Fresh Dialogues question about climate change, Brokaw said, "It's real, we see it in our weather systems," and made a somber call to action, saying everyone needs to take a part. Brokaw, who has hosted two documentaries about global warming for the Discovery Channel, says he's planning an expedition to Antarctica with a team of climate scientists to record the glacial melting next January.

Brokaw cited carbon based fuels and energy consumption as major issues, and stopped short of making specific policy recommendations, but said that the Obama administration missed a valuable opportunity to do something substantial about energy and jobs. "People could have got allied with that," he added.

He acknowledged his part in contributing to the problem (long commutes in polluting LA traffic to visit his beloved mother), but is now doing what he can to be greener. He recently installed solar power in his Montana Ranch, and enthused about recouping his capital investment in only three years. In this intimate video, he waxes lyrical about the piping hot water and heating system -- even during long Montana winters.

Brokaw ended on an upbeat note, saying that he thinks the younger generation will change things for the better.

The video was recorded on November 21st, 2011 at the Commonwealth Club in Silicon Valley, moderated by KGO TV's Dan Ashley. Brokaw is promoting his new oeuvre The Time of Our Lives, a conversation about America; Who we are, where we've been, and where we need to go now, to recapture the American Dream.

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Comments

[intolleft]

11:48 AM on 11/30/2011

I've noticed that as the agenda collapses around them, the fear mongers of AGW doom are accelerating the propaganda.

[tippisheadrun]

02:48 PM on 11/29/2011

So touching to hear that these old fogies actually believe that the next generation will fix the mess they made. Guess that makes it easier to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your pollution in retirement. If he had really cared, he might have used the platform he had at Nightly News to hammer his message home instead of waiting for the Discovery channel to come calling with a cheque to supplement his pension.

[JMS1234]

05:29 AM on 11/29/2011

I believe more research should be done into finding less destructive ways of consuming energy and more efficient ways of eliminating pollution. We only have one planet to live on and whether or not you believe global warming exists, the way most people live their lives now will drastically alter the future of our planet earth. It is important for everyone on this world to take action and be responsible for themselves and others to maintain the well-being of our environment.

[Junksciencecutecritters]

12:38 AM on 11/29/2011

Poor Tom Brokaw. Seems like old folks are always getting scammed.

[MikeWebster]

02:27 AM on 11/29/2011

You need to protect them from conmen, but it seems Tom is taking care of himself.

[Dave F]

03:04 PM on 11/29/2011

"Seems like old folks are always getting scammed."

Yeah, one need not look any further than those old FOX News viewers who know less about current events than people who don't even watch ANY news at all.

[Overd0g2]

03:29 PM on 11/28/2011

Of course it's real. The climate has always changed and it will change in the future.

[adams011]

03:48 PM on 11/28/2011

What part of the chemistry and physics of C02 don't you understand?

[MikeWebster]

02:28 AM on 11/29/2011

The bit after the word "the"....

[qwert1234]

04:16 PM on 11/28/2011

so what's causing the temperature to change now?

[manfromsnowy]

03:19 PM on 11/28/2011

Come on the younger generation.................... who are they get real...................

They will not have the time to grow up with 29% of the land seriously degraded.

I don't believe these guys