{{infobox Person | name = Philippe Verdier | image = Philippe Verdier.JPG | caption = Philippe Verdier in 2016 | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1968}} | birth_place = Neuilly-sur-Seine, France | alma_mater = Paris Dauphine University | spouse = Ludovic (m. 2013) | occupation = Weather presenter }}
'''Philippe Verdier''' (born 23 May 1968{{cn|date=February 2024}}) is a French radio and television weather presenter, and the author of ''Climat Investigation'', a 2015 book critical of the politics of global warming.
==Early life and career==
Verdier was born at Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris.<ref>[https://www.rencontrescapitales.com/team/philippe-verdier/ Philippe Verdier] at rencontrescapitales.com, accessed 5 March 2020</ref> At the age of fourteen he began to present a radio show.
In 1992 he began broadcasting on Radio France Internationale (RFI) and went on to be a shipping weather man on France 2.<ref name="Thomas Gaetner">{{cite news|url=http://www.premiere.fr/Tele/Philippe-Verdier-le-nouveau-Mr-meteo-de-France-2|author1=Thomas Gaetner|title=Philippe Verdier : le nouveau Mr météo de France 2]|newspaper=Télé 7 Jours|date=2011-08-13|accessdate=2020-05-27}}</ref> In 1995 he joined the new La Chaîne Météo, a 24-hour television weather channel, remaining until 2006.<ref name="Thomas Gaetner"/><ref name="CBN-E">Environmental Communication Networks, [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/cbn-e/members_france.html Members of the Climate Broadcasters Network Europe at EC.europa.eu, accessed 14 October 2015]</ref>
In 2001, Verdier also worked for BFM Radio and Radio Monte Carlo,<ref name="CBN-E"/><ref name="Puremedias">[http://www.ozap.com/personnalite/philippe-verdier_e436339 Biographie Philippe Verdier] at PureMédias, accessed 10 September 2012.</ref> both part of the NextRadioTV group, as presenter of Weather bulletins. In 2005, he replaced Laurent Cabrol on Europe 1.<ref name="CBN-E"/><ref name="Puremedias"/> In 2007, he joined BFM TV, as a morning weather presenter.<ref name="Thomas Gaetner"/> In June 2011, he moved on to the weather service of France 2.<ref>[http://www.jeanmarcmorandini.com/article-55339-voici-le-nouveau-mr-meteo-de-france-2-il-vient-de-bfm-tv.html Voici le nouveau Mr Météo de France 2. Il vient de BFM TV !] at jeanmarcmorandini.com of 17 June 2011.</ref> In 2012, Verdier became director of the weather service of France 2.<ref>[http://www.jeanmarcmorandini.com/article-291345-decouvrez-le-decor-de-la-nouvelle-meteo-de-france-2-pour-la-rentree.html Découvrez le décor de la nouvelle météo de France 2] at jeanmarcmorandini.com, 15 August 2012</ref> In January 2014, he launched a new television weather format with Florence Klein,<ref>[http://tvmag.lefigaro.fr/programme-tv/article/television/79162/france-2-et-france-3-rafraichissent-leur-meteo.html France 2 et France 3 rafraîchissent leur météo] at LeFigaro.fr</ref> continuing with it until 2015. By this point, he was France's leading weather man on television, and a household name.<ref name=DT/>
In 2009, Verdier obtained a master's degree in sustainable development at Paris Dauphine University,<ref name="Thomas Gaetner" /> where his dissertation was on climate change and the media.<ref>[http://philippe-verdier.com/biographie/ Biographie] at Philippe-verdier.com</ref>
Verdier reported from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conferences of Bali (2007), Copenhagen (2009), and Cancún (2010), and was expected to cover the Paris conference of 2015 for France 2.<ref name=garcia>Victor Garcia, [http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/medias/philippe-verdier-ex-monsieur-meteo-de-france-2-regle-ses-comptes-sur-russia-today_1740795.html « Philippe Verdier, ex-monsieur météo de France 2, règle ses comptes sur Russia Today »], L'Express, 30 November 2015.</ref>
==Book ''Climat Investigation''== In October 2015, Verdier sensationally published a book titled ''Climat Investigation'', questioning links between scientists, politicians, lobbyists, and environmental NGOs.<ref>[http://tvmag.lefigaro.fr/le-scan-tele/actu-tele/2015/07/01/28001-20150701ARTFIG00057-philippe-verdier-s-attaque-aux-lobbies.php Philippe Verdier s'attaque aux lobbies], in ''Le Figaro'' dated 1 July 2015, [http://www.ring.fr/livre/livre.php/livre/climat-investigation Ring] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018001353/http://www.ring.fr/livre/livre.php/livre/climat-investigation |date=2015-10-18 }}</ref> He also addressed an open letter to the President of France, François Hollande, denouncing the forthcoming COP21 conference, due to begin a month later.<ref name="telerama">{{cite web|url=http://www.telerama.fr/medias/philippe-verdier-finalement-licencie-par-france-televisions,133524.php|title=Le présentateur météo Philippe Verdier finalement licencié par France Télévisions - Médias / Net - Télérama.fr|website=telerama.fr|accessdate=5 March 2020}}</ref>
In the book, Verdier states that leading climatologists and politicians have “taken the world hostage” with misleading information.<ref name=DT/> In promoting the book, he said {{Quote|”Every night I address five million French people to talk to you about the wind, the clouds and the sun. And yet there is something important, very important, that I haven’t been able to tell you, because it’s neither the time nor the place to do so. We are hostage to a planetary scandal over climate change – a war machine whose aim is to keep us in fear.”<ref name=DT>Henry Samuel, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11931645/Frances-top-weatherman-sparks-storm-over-book-questioning-climate-change.html France’s top weatherman sparks storm over book questioning climate change] in The Daily Telegraph dated 14 October 2015, accessed 5 March 2020.</ref>}} The book led France 2 to take Verdier off the air within a few days, sending him on a “forced holiday”. He commented “This is a direct extension of what I say in my book, namely that any contrary views must be eliminated.”<ref name=DT/> In November, he was dismissed by Delphine Ernotte, the chief executive of France Télévisions.<ref>[http://www.bienpublic.com/actualite/2015/11/01/philippe-verdier-m-meteo-de-france-2-a-ete-licencie Philippe Verdier, M. météo de France 2, a été licencié], at bienpublic.com, 1 November 2015</ref> In a statement, the state broadcasting company said "Our rules... prevent anyone from using their professional status... to push forward their personal opinions.”<ref>Lara Marlowe, [http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/french-weatherman-sacked-over-climate-change-book-1.2414582 French weatherman sacked over climate change book] in The Irish Times dated 3 November 2015</ref><ref>Associated Press in Paris, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/02/french-weatherman-fired-for-promoting-book-sceptical-of-climate-change French weatherman fired for promoting book sceptical of climate change] in ''The Guardian'' dated 2 November 2015</ref>
==Later life== In November and December 2015, Verdier covered the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris for Russia Today.<ref name=garcia/>
In 2016, he founded Force 8, a consultancy firm advising on management and communication,<ref name="force8conseils">{{cite web|url=http://www.force8conseils.com|website=force8conseils.com|title=Looks Like This Domain Isn't Connected To A Website Yet!|accessdate=5 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827044701/https://www.force8conseils.com/|archive-date=27 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in October of that year joined Sud Radio to present ''Grand Matin Week-end'' on Saturdays and Sundays. The same year, his second book was published, ''Les Cieux sont tombés sur la tête'' (“The Skies Have Fallen on Our Heads”).<ref>''Les Cieux sont tombés sur la tête'' (Mazarine, 2016) {{ISBN|978-2863743577}}</ref>
In 2018, Verdier moved on from Sud Radio to Radio Lac,<ref>Roxane Cattaneo, [https://www.radiolac.ch/emissions/cest-la-rentree-sur-radio-lac/ C’est la rentrée sur Radio Lac!»] ''Radio Lac'', 25 August 2018</ref> and in 2019 became its editor-in-chief.
==Personal life== On 30 August 2013, Verdier entered into a same-sex marriage with Ludovic, with whom he had lived since 2007.<ref>Jean-Marc Morandini, [http://www.jeanmarcmorandini.com/article-310322-le-monsieur-meteo-de-france-2-philippe-verdier-s-est-marie-avec-son-compagnon.html Le monsieur Météo de France 2, Philippe Verdier, s'est marié avec son compagnon] at jeanmarcmorandini.com dated 26 September 2013</ref>
== Selected publications == * ''Climat Investigation'' (Éditions Ring, 2015) {{ISBN|979-1091447362}} * ''Les Cieux sont tombés sur la tête'' (Mazarine, 2016) {{ISBN|978-2863743577}} * ''Climat Investigation'' (La mécanique générale, 2016) {{ISBN|979-1095776062}}
== Notes == {{Reflist|1}}
== External links== * [http://www.philippeverdier.com PhilippeVerdier.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320213939/http://www.philippeverdier.com/ |date=2016-03-20 }}, official web site
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Verdier, Philippe}} Category:French television weather presenters Category:French radio presenters Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Writers from Neuilly-sur-Seine Category:Mass media people from Neuilly-sur-Seine Category:Radio weather presenters Category:Paris Dauphine University alumni