• At ABC, which aired 103 climate segments, chief meteorologist Ginger Zee covered climate in 26 segments, with half of those airing as part of weather forecasts. Chief medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton, White House correspondent Maryalice Parks, and correspondent Erielle Reshef each reported 4 segments.
• At CBS, which aired 129 climate segments, senior national and environmental correspondent Ben Tracy reported 30 climate segments before departing the network in September 2024, leading all correspondents across corporate broadcast networks. National environmental correspondent David Schechter reported 13 segments, and correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti reported 11 segments.
• At NBC, which aired 88 segments, chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson reported 6 climate segments, while correspondents Tom Costello and Maggie Vespa each reported 5 segments.

ABC

• Maryalice Parks reported on climate activists organizing ahead of the 2024 election during the April 21 episode of This Week. The segment highlighted how grassroots organizations mobilized voters around climate policy, with activists emphasizing the stakes of the election for mitigating the worst impacts of climate change. Parks featured organizers discussing their strategies for engagement and the challenges of getting voters to prioritize climate in the voting booth. 
• Ginger Zee reported on how first responders in Phoenix, Arizona, are adapting to extreme heat during the July 2 episode of Good Morning America. The segment highlighted Maricopa County’s record-breaking 645 heat-related deaths in 2023 and the growing strain on emergency services. Zee spoke with local paramedics about a new technique for treating people dealing with extreme heat, including mobile cooling units to allow a faster response, to prevent fatalities. The report highlighted the increasing threat of extreme heat and the role of climate change in amplifying heat impacts in cities such as Phoenix. 

CBS

• David Schechter reported on efforts to protect workers from extreme heat during the August 8 episode of CBS Evening News. The segment examined how rising temperatures are creating hazardous conditions for outdoor and kitchen laborers. It highlighted the need for federal protections and explored how the Biden administration’s proposed extreme heat regulations could help mitigate risks for workers' health and safety, especially as climate change drives more frequent extreme heat days.
• Jonathan Vigliotti reported on wildfire recovery in two segments. On the June 11 episode of CBS Evening News, he covered rebuilding efforts in Paradise, California, after the 2018 Camp Fire. And, on the August 8 episode of CBS Mornings, he revisited Lahaina, Hawaii, on the anniversary of the wildfire, to report on the challenges of recovery, including helping displaced residents and securing aid. These were among the few national broadcast segments in 2024 to focus on long-term disaster recovery rather than immediate disaster response.
• Ben Tracy reported on an ExxonMobil-backed plastic recycling program facing greenwashing claims during the September 24 episode of CBS Mornings. The segment, which examined allegations that the oil giant misled the public about the effectiveness of plastic recycling — despite internal documents showing most plastic waste was never recycled — was one of the most in-depth network reports on corporate greenwashing in 2024. It highlighted California's lawsuit against ExxonMobil, which accuses the company of deceiving consumers for decades by promoting plastic recycling as a viable solution while knowing the vast majority of plastics end up in landfills or the environment.

NBC

• Tom Costello reported on how climate change is intensifying aviation turbulence and impacting flight safety during the May 21 episode of NBC Nightly News. The segment focused on a Singapore Airlines flight incident but also examined how global warming is intensifying turbulence, leading to increased in-flight injuries and operational challenges for airlines. Costello spoke with an atmospheric scientist, an FAA official, and a flight attendant union representative who discussed the growing risks for passengers and flight crews.
• Anne Thompson reported on climate change’s impact on dengue fever during the May 28 episode of NBC Nightly News. The segment highlighted how rising temperatures and changing seasonal patterns are expanding the breeding season of disease-carrying mosquitoes, increasing the threat of illnesses such as Dengue fever in the United States.

The journalists highlighted in this analysis demonstrate how impactful climate reporting can be, even amid the time constraints and competing priorities of corporate broadcast news. Their work shows that climate coverage isn’t just about tracking extreme weather — it’s about explaining why these events are becoming more intense and connecting their impacts to communities, economies, and public health. 

Networks can strengthen their climate reporting by making it a year-round priority, integrating it into political and economic coverage, and ensuring that correspondents have the resources and support to cover climate stories with the depth and substance they deserve. Expanding coverage beyond immediate impacts to include adaptation, clean energy, and long-term policy shifts will help audiences see not just the challenges but also the choices ahead.

The correspondents highlighted here have shown how climate reporting can inform, engage, and connect global warming impacts and solutions to daily life. But for broadcast news to truly meet the challenge, climate coverage must be integrated across the newsroom, not confined to isolated segments or disaster-driven reporting. Climate journalism is at its best when it holds power to account, cuts through misinformation, and delivers clear, science-based reporting. Networks that invest in more correspondents who understand these issues — and expand their presence throughout news coverage — will be providing their viewers with the knowledge they need to navigate one of the defining challenges of our time.

To learn more about how broadcast TV networks covered climate change in 2024, click here.