January 27, 2021   ||   1:00-3:00 p.m. ET, followed by Breakouts

Hosted virtually by National Geographic Society

Watch the recording [1].

What: The Society of Environmental Journalists' annual look ahead at the year's key energy and environmental issues. The "2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment" special report was formally launched Jan. 27 at the 9th annual roundtable organized by the Society of Environmental Journalists.

Hosted virtually by National Geographic Society [2] and co-sponsored by the Wilson Center [3], the event kicked off with a prerecorded interview with new White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, followed by a live interview with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and SEJ's annual panel of leading journalists offering their predictions for the year ahead.

Coverage:

• "‘We Need to Be Bold,’ Biden Says, Taking the First Steps in a Major Shift in Climate Policy, [4]" Inside Climate News, Jan 28, 2021, by Marianne Lavelle, Agya K. Aning, Dan Gearino, David Hasemyer, James Bruggers, Katie Surma, Kristoffer Tigue, Phil McKenna.
• "Senator “It’s Time to Wake Up” Whitehouse Drops His Climate Change Mic [5]," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 3, 2021, by Dan Drollette Jr.

Speaker:

Gina McCarthy [6], White House National Climate Advisor and former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Facilitator: Jeff Berardelli [7], Meteorologist and Climate Specialist, CBS News
This is a prerecorded but embargoed exclusive interview for SEJ.

Speaker:

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse [8], D-RI
Facilitator: Enric Sala [9], Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society
This is a live session.

Panel Moderator:

Neela Banerjee [10], Supervising Climate Editor, National Public Radio

Panelists:

Kate Abnett [11], European Climate & Energy Correspondent, Reuters
Yvette Cabrera [12], Senior Staff Writer, Environmental Justice, Grist
Sammy Roth [13], Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times
Mark Trahant [14], Editor, Indian Country Today

Breakout Rooms:

3:00-4:00 p.m.

Following the keynote and panel sessions, registrants chose one of the four breakout rooms listed below for informal discussion on these timely environmental topics. A $25 Uber Eats voucher, generously provided by National Geographic Society, was sent to breakout room registrants prior to the event. 

1. Unshackling EPA
   Hosts: Cheryl Hogue [15], Senior Correspondent, Chemical & Engineering News, and Laura Paskus [16], Correspondent and Producer, New Mexico PBS
2. Department of Interior: Making History and Undoing the Past
   Hosts: Judy Fahys [17], Mountain West Reporter, Inside Climate News, and Emily Gertz [18], Senior Editor, Drilled News
3. Climate & Energy: The Year Ahead for Biden's Climate Strike Force
   Hosts: Michael Kodas [19], Senior Editor, Inside Climate News, and Kathi Kowalski [20], Freelance Journalist
4. Generational Justice: The Year Ahead for the Youth Climate Movement
   Hosts: Meera Subramanian [21], Independent Journalist, and Ilana Cohen [22], Freelance Climate Journalist and Youth Climate Activist

Also check out the guide [23], including TipSheets on environmental justice and climate policy under Biden, Backgrounders on international treaties and carmakers, and more to come, including additional reports, an overview analysis and live event coverage.

[2]

[3]