By Abby Melendez-Cubias, Alliance Intern from University of California, Davis ’26
Comcast — the owner of NBCUniversal and much of US cable — is responsible for a whopping 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to Green America.
Unfortunately, much of the electricity that Comcast and the communications sector use to power their networks is sourced from fossil fuels. Green America’s Hang Up on Fossil Fuels campaign found Comcast didn’t fare well compared to other companies. They are using little renewable electricity and are lacking in robust goals to get to 100% wind and solar.
Even NBC’s own Al Roker, the long-time weatherman and journalist on the Today Show, made a connection between extreme weather events and climate change. Hopefully, Al will speak up and persuade his network to get clean.
Comcast must make changes now by switching to clean renewable energy – such as solar and wind – to help address the climate crisis and use their market power to benefit the health of their community, workers and the planet. This would also help alleviate environmental justice issues because so much conventional energy is polluting poorer communities, often with a high percentage of people of color.
With the harsh impacts of the climate crisis already being felt by communities from LA to island nations, we need aggressive commitments now. There is no time to waste. Join the Alliance in signing Green America’s petition and demand Comcast switch to renewable energy and stop contributing to harmful fossil fuel pollution!