Publication Items

‘Carbon Colonialism’ Details the Exporting of Degradation, Climate Collapse [1]

The climate change debate is often so focused on fossil fuels and mining that it ignores impacts in economic, political, neo-colonial and social terms, writes BookShelf’s Melody Kemp in her review of “Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown.” Why concepts like corporate social responsibility do little to stem the losses that come with such development.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [5]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Forests [10]
Health [11]
Natural Resources [12]
People & Population [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Region:
International [16]
Asia [17]
Europe [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
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Rockets and Bombs and Chemicals — The Environmental Horrors of War [20]

With the world in the midst of wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, it’s time for journalists to appraise — and report on — the intersection of conflict and the environment, argues the new Backgrounder. That means considering the environment not only as a victim of war, but also as the cause of war and a means of carrying it out.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [22]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [23]
Environmental Health [24]
Environmental Politics [9]
Government [25]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [26]
Military [27]
People & Population [13]
Policy [14]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [31]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [32]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [34]
International [16]
Africa [35]
Asia [17]
Europe [18]
Middle East [36]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Rockets and Bombs and Chemicals — The Environmental Horrors of War [20]
What’s Ahead on Climate Justice, Climate Crisis Beat [37]

What environment stories will matter most in 2024 to communities of color and Indigenous communities? Columnist Yessenia Funes sheds light on concerns ranging from the environmental damage in Gaza and extreme weather across the United States to the fallout from the U.S. presidential election to the local impacts of the clean energy transition. Insights in the latest Voices of Environmental Justice.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [23]
Diversity [39]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Government [25]
Health [11]
Infrastructure [40]
Journalism & Media [26]
Military [27]
People & Population [13]
Planning & Growth [41]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Alaska and Hawaii [42]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [34]
International [16]
Middle East [36]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about What’s Ahead on Climate Justice, Climate Crisis Beat [37]
Environmental Digital Storytelling — A Best-in-Show Sampler [43]

As part of its periodic survey of the compelling work by digital journalists using data and multimedia, Reporter’s Toolbox looks at some favorite projects in the last year or so. On the list are granular maps and spinning globes, compelling photo essays and clickable storytelling. But the heart of the best digital journalism, Toolbox reminds us, is that it matters. And these do.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [45]
Chemicals [22]
Climate Change [4]
Diversity [39]
Environmental Justice [8]
Fish & Fisheries [46]
Food [47]
Health [11]
Infrastructure [40]
Journalism & Media [26]
Natural Resources [12]
People & Population [13]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
International [16]
Canada [48]
Africa [35]
Asia [17]
Europe [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Environmental Digital Storytelling — A Best-in-Show Sampler [43]
Climate Health Impacts Can Multiply Local Story Possibilities [49]

The connection between global warming and human health is worrying many public health experts, as some climate change-induced ecological shifts have worsened the potential spread of infectious diseases, including in North America. The latest TipSheet takes a closer look at a half-dozen climate-related diseases that environmental journalists might watch for local and regional stories. Plus, resources to report on the issue.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Health [11]
People & Population [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
International [16]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Climate Health Impacts Can Multiply Local Story Possibilities [49]
Between the Lines — Author Explores Experience of Living Through Climate Change [51]

To make climate change less abstract and more direct, writer Madeline Ostrander traveled the country to speak to those living with its impacts in the places they call home. In a BookShelf “Between the Lines” Q&A, Ostrander discusses her resulting book, “At Home on an Unruly Planet: Finding Refuge on a Changed Earth,” and addresses the lenses she used, the characters she portrayed and the surprises she encountered.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [23]
Economy & Business [6]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Forests [10]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [26]
People & Population [13]
Policy [14]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [52]
Science [53]
Wildlife [54]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Alaska and Hawaii [42]
California [55]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [34]
International [16]
Canada [48]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Between the Lines — Author Explores Experience of Living Through Climate Change [51]
Gathering Offers Sobering Look Ahead at 2024, But With Glimmers of Hope [56]

Top environmental journalists and others at the Society of Environmental Journalists annual “Journalists’ Guide to Environment and Energy” program foresee some challenging realities to cover in 2024, most notably with the ongoing impacts of climate change. Bright signs emerged as well. Read our take, watch the event video [57] and visit our full “2024 Journalists’ Guide to Environment + Energy [58]” special report.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [59]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [60]
Biodiversity [61]
Chemicals [22]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [23]
Environmental Health [24]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Fish & Fisheries [46]
Forests [10]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [26]
Natural Resources [12]
People & Population [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Alaska and Hawaii [42]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [34]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [62]
International [16]
South America [63]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Gathering Offers Sobering Look Ahead at 2024, But With Glimmers of Hope [56]
Covering Food Systems — The Next Climate Action Battleground [64]

Freelance food systems reporter Thin Lei Win believes that if the world doesn’t change the way it produces, processes, transports, consumes and discards food, climate change will worsen and hunger levels will spike. But she also worries that powerful interests want to keep the status quo and cites parallels with the tobacco and fossil fuel industries. More in Freelance Files, including places for freelancers to pitch climate-food stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Freelance Files [65]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [45]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [5]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Food [47]
Journalism & Media [26]
People & Population [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
International [16]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Covering Food Systems — The Next Climate Action Battleground [64]
High-Risk Reporting Yields Results on Palm Oil Investigation [66]

The devastation caused by the Amazonian palm oil industry was at the heart of an investigation by Mongabay reporter Karla Mendes. But first she had to face hostile sources, intransigent regulators and a robbery attempt. Ultimately, the project not only won a reporting prize from the Society of Environmental Journalists but brought global awareness and government action. Her experience, in Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [67]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [45]
Chemicals [22]
Economy & Business [6]
Environmental Health [24]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Food [47]
Forests [10]
Government [25]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [26]
Natural Resources [12]
People & Population [13]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
International [16]
South America [63]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about High-Risk Reporting Yields Results on Palm Oil Investigation [66]
Author Brings Far-Reaching Insight to ‘The Three Ages of Water’ [68]

Leading water expert Peter Gleick’s new book on water’s past, present and future is an ambitious volume that offers a panoramic look at this essential resource — and hope for living in harmony with it in the future. BookShelf Editor Tom Henry calls “The Three Ages of Water” a rare book of breadth and depth, part history and part sustainable remedy. Read his review.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Health [24]
Environmental Justice [8]
Food [47]
Health [11]
Natural Resources [12]
People & Population [13]
Planning & Growth [41]
Policy [14]
Science [53]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
International [16]
Africa [35]
Asia [17]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Author Brings Far-Reaching Insight to ‘The Three Ages of Water’ [68]

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