In the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, it is a long road from denial to acceptance. But in the tragedy that is climate change, the terrifying new math proves that we need to get to acceptance as quickly as possible in order to prevent — or at least minimize — a planetary cataclysm. Doing that, as I argue in this short new video, requires a massive public education campaign about the reality of climate change, starting with the mass media.

But one of the big problems is local television news — and how so many of the nation’s Ron Burgundys are full-on climate-change denialists. Also important is the quiet change happening in the national media — a change whereby more and more outlets are taking steps to diminish — or criticize — what minimal climate change coverage still exists.

Consider the news of the past few weeks:

• The New York Times announced that it is disbanding its Environment Desk and wholly eliminating the environment editor and deputy environment editor. The news is particularly important, considering the fact that out of all major national newspapers, the Times had published the most stories about climate change in 2012.

• Despite journalist Bill McKibben correctly noting that climate change is “not just the biggest crisis ever (but) the biggest story ever,” Inside Climate News reports that the nation’s five largest-circulation newspapers will only “have about a dozen reporters and a handful of editors among them whose primary responsibility is to cover the environment.”