How To Answer "Is This Caused By Climate Change?"

Journalistic ethics have long tabooed rushing to judgement about the cause of this tornado or that flash flood. But now, with mathematical rigor and clarity, scientists in the field of “extreme weather attribution” can make such connections in some cases.

Heidi Cullen, chief scientist at Climate Central, believes the media are failing to contextualize current weather coverage — similar to misleading reporting leading up to the financial crisis. She speaks with Bob about how journalists can embrace this form of science and more precise language to better explain global warming’s role in extreme weather events.