Publication Items

Home Insurance Likely To Be a 2024 Climate Story Near You [1]

In the first of a two-parter for our 2024 Journalists’ Guide to Environment & Energy, TipSheet looks at what climate-driven disasters mean for the home insurance market. Storms, floods and fire rip through communities, yet a federal insurance program falls short, lawmakers shy away from real reform and insurers grow hesitant to cover the risks, while homeowners often attempt to rebuild in the same problematic locales. Plus, see part two [2] on extreme weather and insurance.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [5]
Disasters [6]
Economy & Business [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
People & Population [12]
Planning & Growth [13]
Policy [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [17]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Home Insurance Likely To Be a 2024 Climate Story Near You [1]
Uncovering the Environmental Impacts of a Controversial Water Project [20]

Months spent gathering thousands of documents and talking to local residents led reporter Dheeraj Mishra to uncover the negative environmental impacts of a major hydro project in a water-scarce region of India. And his resulting investigative reporting got him noticed in the 2022 Society of Environmental Journalists’ 2022 awards contest. Mishra shares his insights in the new Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [9]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [25]
People & Population [12]
Planning & Growth [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [26]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
International [28]
Asia [29]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Uncovering the Environmental Impacts of a Controversial Water Project [20]
Dangerous Inland Flooding in Reporters’ Forecast [30]

While much attention is paid to hurricane flooding along the coasts, recent disasters in the Northeast United States brought home the dangers of flooding inland. The latest TipSheet has the basics, plus more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources for local journalists to prepare for coverage of inland floods.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [6]
Journalism & Media [10]
Planning & Growth [13]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [17]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Dangerous Inland Flooding in Reporters’ Forecast [30]
The Seven Stages of Beach Exploitation (and Restoration) [31]

When most people think of coastal tourist destinations, they imagine beaches lined by palm trees and exclusive resorts. But those are exactly the kind of realities that contribute to the environmental and economic decline of coastal communities and their local residents, argues a new book. Contributing Editor Jenny Weeks has our review in the new BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Health [22]
Natural Resources [25]
People & Population [12]
Planning & Growth [13]
Pollution [26]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Alaska and Hawaii [33]
California [16]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [17]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [18]
International [28]
Mexico [34]
Africa [35]
Asia [29]
Australia & Oceania [36]
Central America & the Caribbean [37]
Europe [38]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about The Seven Stages of Beach Exploitation (and Restoration) [31]
SEJ Panel Gauges Issues in the Works in the U.S. West [39]

As part of our 2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment special report, we’ve got highlights from last week’s reporter panel on the year ahead, led by #SEJ2023 conference co-chair Tom Michael (pictured, left). The focus was largely on the U.S. West, where challenges abound over issues like equitable siting of renewable energy infrastructure, regulating natural gas, managing wildfires and addressing the health consequences of climate-driven heat waves. Read our account [39], plus check out the full 2023 Guide [40].

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [42]
Air [43]
Biodiversity [44]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [6]
Economy & Business [7]
Energy & Fuel [45]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [8]
Fish & Fisheries [46]
Food [47]
Forests [48]
Government [9]
Health [49]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [25]
People & Population [12]
Planning & Growth [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [26]
Water & Oceans [27]
Wildlife [50]
Region:
California [16]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [51]
Northwest (OR WA) [52]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [53]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about SEJ Panel Gauges Issues in the Works in the U.S. West [39]
Epic Struggles Ahead in 2023 on Energy Transition, Pollution [54]

In our annual analysis of what’s ahead on the environment beat in 2023, there are some things to count on: worsening climate disasters and continued politicking over energy transitions, but also regulatory action on greenhouse gas emissions (not to mention on “forever chemicals”). Other things are less clear: environmental rulings by a conservative U.S. Supreme Court, energy impacts of war in Europe and the effectiveness of COP28 and treaty talks on plastic pollution. Read the full overview and get more in our “2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [40]” special report.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [55]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [56]
Agriculture [42]
Air [43]
Biodiversity [44]
Chemicals [57]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [6]
Economy & Business [7]
Energy & Fuel [45]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [8]
Fish & Fisheries [46]
Government [9]
Health [49]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Military [58]
Natural Resources [25]
Planning & Growth [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [26]
Science [59]
Waste [60]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [28]
Europe [38]
Middle East [61]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Epic Struggles Ahead in 2023 on Energy Transition, Pollution [54]
Cascadia Bioregion Rife With Energy, Environment Troubles To Report in 2023 [62]

Iconic critters like salmon, orca and wolves. Climate controversies like natural gas greenwashing and carbon auctions. And wildfire fallout like “smoke-a-geddon.” These are just some of the wide array of stories worth covering as environmental journalists scan Cascadia, the huge area encompassing Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and stretching from Alaska to Utah. This special TipSheet, part of our 2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment, outlines top issues in the region, offering insights, resources and story angles.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [56]
Agriculture [42]
Air [43]
Biodiversity [44]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [5]
Disasters [6]
Diversity [63]
Economy & Business [7]
Energy & Fuel [45]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [8]
Environmental Studies [64]
Fish & Fisheries [46]
Food [47]
Forests [48]
Government [9]
Health [49]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Natural Resources [25]
Planning & Growth [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [26]
Transportation [65]
Waste [60]
Water & Oceans [27]
Wildlife [50]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Alaska and Hawaii [33]
California [16]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [51]
Northwest (OR WA) [52]
International [28]
Canada [66]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Cascadia Bioregion Rife With Energy, Environment Troubles To Report in 2023 [62]
Water-Sharing in the West: An Urgent and Complicated Environmental Story [67]

Water has always been a precious commodity in the western states. Now, with rapid population growth and a drying climate, the way this resource is shared and distributed is becoming more contentious across the region. Freelance journalist Jennifer Oldham talks about the tensions between supply and demand and how to drill down into water rights laws and policies.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [68]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [42]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [5]
Economy & Business [7]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [9]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Natural Resources [25]
People & Population [12]
Planning & Growth [13]
Policy [14]
Technology [69]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [51]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [53]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Water-Sharing in the West: An Urgent and Complicated Environmental Story [67]
Collaborative Journalism Project Reveals Inequities in Escaping Climate Change Hazards [70]

When U.S. communities become unlivable due to climate change impacts, can residents count on government relocation assistance — and are those most in need of help actually getting it? Those questions kickstarted a year-long investigation led by three high-powered journalism organizations. Now they’re sharing their reporting resources toolkit and inviting other journalists to widen the coverage with more local stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [68]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [6]
Diversity [63]
Economy & Business [7]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [9]
Health [49]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
People & Population [12]
Planning & Growth [13]
Policy [14]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Alaska and Hawaii [33]
California [16]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [71]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [72]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [17]
Northwest (OR WA) [52]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [18]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [53]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Collaborative Journalism Project Reveals Inequities in Escaping Climate Change Hazards [70]
New Kolbert Volume Addresses Value of Human Efforts To Control Nature [73]

When engineers reversed the Chicago River, they also upended a hydrologic system that years later required electrification to repel an invasive species threatening a major fishery. This is but one example from the latest book by New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert of the unintended consequences of human actions to dominate nature that may solve one problem only to create another. BookShelf contributor Gary Wilson has a review.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Health [22]
Fish & Fisheries [46]
Infrastructure [24]
Natural Resources [25]
Planning & Growth [13]
Policy [14]
Science [59]
Technology [69]
Water & Oceans [27]
Wildlife [50]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [71]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about New Kolbert Volume Addresses Value of Human Efforts To Control Nature [73]

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