Gloninger continues climate-change research, creates podcast

Chris Gloninger believed he’d secured an ideal position as the chief meteorologist for KCCI TV of Des Moines in 2021. The station encouraged him to engage with climate change topics related to local weather. Being closer to his wife's family in Wisconsin was an added benefit. However, a year later, this initially promising situation spiraled into turmoil as he faced threats to his personal safety.

Gloninger's passion for weather started young, sparked by the devastation of Hurricane Bob along the East Coast in 1991. He soon earned his meteorology degree in New Hampshire and built his career at various local TV stations in the Northeast before seeking a new challenge in Iowa. Gloninger said, “I felt I could make a difference in Iowa and break the mold of a traditional weather forecaster.”

He aimed to change perceptions of traditional weather forecasting while raising awareness of climate change. Gloninger found hope in Iowa’s leadership in wind power and in a 2020 study showing that over 70% of residents wanted to hear more about climate change. For many Iowans, severe temperature fluctuations, droughts, and recurrent flooding highlighted the urgency of climate issues.

However, by mid-2022, pressure from a handful of viewers, station management encouraged Gloninger to limit his climate change commentary. Although the backlash was modest, one violent threat prompted the installation of security cameras at his home. The emotional toll drove him to seek counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder. The individual was eventually captured and arrested, but in the end, he decided to leave Iowa for the safety of his family and accept a position as a senior scientist focused on climate change at the Woods Hole Group in Massachusetts.

Despite relocating, Gloninger remains connected to Iowa. Shortly after leaving KCCI, he partnered with attorney and climate advocate Channing Dutton to create the Three Degrees Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@ThreeDegreesPodcast), addressing crucial climate issues.

Climate activist and former Iowan David Thoreson joined the podcast, gaining international recognition for sailing through the Arctic’s Northwest Passage in 2007… now accessible due to melting icebergs caused by climate change. Thoreson praised Gloninger's professionalism, stating, "I never thought he said anything controversial as a meteorologist."

Dutton echoed Thoreson’s sentiment, describing Gloninger as "fearless" in his climate change reporting, always supported by scientific evidence. Gloninger champions the "7 to 1" model, in which every dollar invested in climate action yields a 7x return for businesses and government.

Despite the threats, Gloninger found strength in the overwhelming support from Iowans, receiving over 300 encouraging emails after announcing his departure from KCCI. In a 2023 NPR interview, he asserted, "Climate change isn't an opinion; it's grounded in fact-based science. We must strive for kindness, even when opinions differ."

Wayne Bruns is an Urbandale resident and a volunteer with Sustainable Urbandale. This article was previously published in Urbandale Living: https://www.iowalivingmagazines.com/urbandale-archives