The BBC is facing a backlash after publishing educational resources for children listing the “positive” impacts of climate change.
On a GCSE level resource published on the BBC Bitesize website, it lists a number of claims for the argument that climate change could have positive impacts on the world and in the UK more specifically, including on tourism.
Under the headline ‘positive and negative impacts of climate change, it says: “Positive impacts of a warmer global climate could include... new tourist destinations becoming available.
“Some animals and plants could benefit and flourish in a changing climate.
“Warmer temperatures could lead to healthier outdoor lifestyles.”
Responding to the publication of the resource, a number of people were shocked to see the BBC present climate change as if there was a balanced argument to be made.
Gary Lineker questioned whether it was a “spoof”:
This has to be a spoof? Positives? https://t.co/qqXsE2U37A
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) July 1, 2021
While George Monbiot said it was an “absolute disgrace”:
This is what @bbcbitesize is teaching our children about climate breakdown. I'm sorry, but it's an absolute disgrace. You could come away thinking: "on balance, it sounds pretty good". It could have been written by Exxon.
— George Monbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) July 1, 2021
(h/t: @NickShepley)https://t.co/YVZfs7lRt6
The BBC has a long and disgraceful history of both-sidesing the greatest threat to life on Earth. Every so often, it puts out a memo claiming it has got its act together. Then it fails again. People who make this content believe "neutrality" = impartiality. It's the opposite.
— George Monbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) July 1, 2021
And journalist Henry Mance also criticised it:
the BBC Bitesize is telling kids that an upside of climate change is that we'll be able to burn more oil
— Henry Mance (@henrymance) July 1, 2021
"Positive impacts include... more resources, such as oil, becoming available in places such as Alaska and Siberia when the ice melts"
😡😡😡
The resource did also list a number of negative impacts of climate change. It noted that Arctic plant species could become “extinct” and that extreme weather events like tropical storms could become more frequent.
But critics stated that the climate crisis is not one that should be approached in this manner.
Stuart Lock, the CEO of a free school group, Advantage School, said the resource was “flat wrong”.
Dear @bbcbitesize, I think this is flat wrong, doesn’t align with the national curriculum or exam specs, and needs reconsidering. From https://t.co/emrNxG2mIK pic.twitter.com/dOwXN1Lsbo
— Stuart Lock (@StuartLock) June 30, 2021
Responding to the criticism, BBC Bitesize said it would be “assessing the guides in relation to the latest ed specs from the relevant exam boards”.
Hi George, thank you for your comment. We have passed this on to the relevant team and are assessing the guides in relation to the latest ed specs from the relevant exam boards.
— BBC Bitesize (@bbcbitesize) July 1, 2021
A BBC spokesperson later told indy100 that they had “reviewed the page and are amending the content to be in line with current curricula.”
We have also approached the Department for Education to assess whether the BBC’s resource was in line with the national curriculum.
