ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

In the ECU’s view the wording of the introduction, which stated β€œthe death toll is rising around the world and the forecast is that worse is to come”, risked giving the impression the rate of deaths from extreme weather-related events was increasing. Β In fact, as noted a recent report from the World Meteorological Organization, despite the number of weather-related disasters (such as floods, storms and drought) growing significantly in the past 50 years, the number of deaths caused by such disasters has fallen because of improved early warnings and disaster management.

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News accepted the wording in the programme was not as clear as it should have been and a public acknowledgement was put on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s Corrections and Clarifications website before the complaint reached the ECU. This was an appropriate means of response and ensured the potentially misleading impression was corrected as a matter of public record.Β  However, an oversight meant the programme was still available on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer without a link or reference to the published correction, and for that reason the complaint was upheld.Β 

Separately the ECU considered the language used in the programme about the drought in Madagascar. It agreed the evidence showed southern Madagascar had suffered lower than average seasonal rainfall in recent years, and that climate change was one of the factors which had contributed to famine in the country. Β It also noted the reporter’s language mirrored that used by the UN’s World Food Programme. Β However the statement that Madagascar was on the brink of the world’s first climate-induced famine Β was presented without qualification, whereas other evidence available prior to broadcast suggested there were additional factors which made a significant contribution to the shortage of food. The complaint was therefore upheld.
Upheld