Brokaw Joins Fight Against Global Warming

Host Tom Brokaw stands in Montana's Glacier National Park during an on-location interview for the Discovery Channel special, "Global Warming: What You Need to Know," which premieres Sunday, July 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Discovery Channel, Gary Benson) (Gary Benson - AP)

Producers speak to no one, at least on film, who believes the current warmth is part of the Earth's natural cycle and who minimizes the importance of what is happening.

"You go around the world and it is the overwhelming number of people in the science of climatology who say this is happening," Brokaw said.

Discovery does intend to alter one part of the film that, in a preview tape, talks about the United States' refusal to participate in the Kyoto international treaty to reduce greenhouse gases, he said. During the discussion, a picture is flashed of a demonstrator holding a picture of President Bush emblazoned with "toxic Texan." Brokaw said that political blame should be distributed more broadly.

The same scientists who warn of dire consequences also say that there are things that can be done to greatly slow the rate of global warming.

In the film, Brokaw presents examples big and small _ from New York City promoting more energy-efficient mass transportation and environmentally friendly building construction to families that can save a remarkable amount of energy by simply unplugging television sets when they aren't being used.

Brokaw, 66, spoke by telephone from Colorado, where he's working on a documentary about illegal immigration. Another NBC documentary, about the black underclass, is set to run later this month.

How's this retirement thing working out anyway?

"Good question," he said. "I flunked."

He said he's trying to find a better balance between work, relaxation and travel. Even when he's working on projects, he said it feels freeing not to have to be in the studio at 6:30 every night for NBC's "Nightly News."

With all the changes at the top ranks of network anchors _ former NBC star Katie Couric about to take over at the "CBS Evening News," Charles Gibson in charge at ABC News _ Brokaw is loyal to successor Brian Williams.

"I'm sure a year from now (Couric) will have a secure lock on second place," he said.

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On the Net:

http://www.discovery.com/

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EDITOR'S NOTE _ David Bauder can be reached at dbauder(at)ap.org