Publication Items

New ‘Climate Trace’ Emissions Database Unveiled at COP27 [1]

A new way for journalists to get more accurate numbers on global greenhouse gas emissions was introduced by former Vice President Al Gore at the recent United Nations’ climate change gathering in Egypt. Reporter’s Toolbox looks under the hood of Climate Trace, which is the result of work by more than 100 collaborators and compiles data from some 300 specialized satellites and 11,000 sensors.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Journalism & Media [4]
Technology [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
International [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about New ‘Climate Trace’ Emissions Database Unveiled at COP27 [1]
New Kolbert Volume Addresses Value of Human Efforts To Control Nature [9]

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 [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [11]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Infrastructure [13]
Natural Resources [14]
Planning & Growth [15]
Policy [16]
Science [17]
Technology [5]
Water & Oceans [18]
Wildlife [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [20]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [21]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about New Kolbert Volume Addresses Value of Human Efforts To Control Nature [9]
Journalism Industry Program Supports Reporting on Workers — and Work — in a Warming World [22]

As the economic impacts of climate change intensify, reporting on how individuals are affected, particularly in the Global South, is lagging. Veteran journalist Christine Spolar at The Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting details a new initiative to encourage journalists to fill this gap. The story of recent grantees Bhasker Tripathi and Susan Schulman, who have tracked job losses and migrations tied to climate change in India and Iraq.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [24]
Agriculture [25]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [26]
Economy & Business [27]
Environmental Justice [28]
Environmental Politics [29]
Food [30]
Government [31]
Health [32]
Journalism & Media [4]
People & Population [33]
Policy [16]
Technology [5]
Water & Oceans [18]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
International [7]
Africa [34]
Asia [35]
Middle East [36]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Journalism Industry Program Supports Reporting on Workers — and Work — in a Warming World [22]
Should Journalism Educators Mix It Up With Interdisciplinary Projects? [37]

When it comes to working across boundaries in an academic setting, those who teach journalism may be naturals, tapping as they often can into their experience reporting on those from very different backgrounds and disciplines. EJ Academy’s editor, Bob Wyss, shares his experience with a successful project examining self-driving vehicles and explains why fellow journalism educators may want to give interdisciplinary teaching a try.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [4]
Technology [5]
Transportation [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Should Journalism Educators Mix It Up With Interdisciplinary Projects? [37]
On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [40]

Concerns about seaborne plastic waste go back decades, but science writer Juli Berwald suggests that myths and disinformation about sources and solutions continue to cloud the waters. From lentil-sized nurdles to sprawling fishing nets, 200 million tons of plastic now fill the ocean and, for her, it has become evident that the ocean plastics story is really a land story. But will the newly signed international treaty on plastics offer relief?

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [24]
Biodiversity [41]
Chemicals [42]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [43]
Economy & Business [27]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Studies [45]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Government [31]
Infrastructure [13]
Journalism & Media [4]
Laws & Regulations [46]
Natural Resources [14]
Policy [16]
Pollution [47]
Science [17]
Technology [5]
Waste [48]
Water & Oceans [18]
Wildlife [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Alaska and Hawaii [49]
California [50]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [51]
Northwest (OR WA) [52]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [21]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [53]
International [7]
Mexico [54]
Africa [34]
Asia [35]
Europe [55]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [40]
Air Conditioner HFCs Are on the Way Out — The Kigali Amendment Explained [56]

For the first time in years, the United States has ratified a climate change-related treaty — one that phases out HFCs, the greenhouse gas widely used as a refrigerant. That leaves environmental reporters to report how the change will affect everyday objects like ACs, refrigerators and cars. TipSheet has the backstory on the Kigali Amendment, along with story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [57]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [42]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [27]
Environmental Politics [29]
Government [31]
Journalism & Media [4]
Laws & Regulations [46]
Policy [16]
Pollution [47]
Technology [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
International [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Air Conditioner HFCs Are on the Way Out — The Kigali Amendment Explained [56]
Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [58]

As concerns over global warming, the endangerment of plant and animal species, and water rights escalate, many environmentalists are turning to Indigenous people for guidance. As part of a Society of Environmental Journalists special initiative focused on covering climate solutions, we take a closer look at nature-based solutions and Indigenous people with reporter Brian Bull. Check out a resource toolbox and stay tuned for a reporting tipsheet in coming weeks. Plus, be sure to register for a Sept. 28 webinar [59] on covering Indigenous communities and nature-based climate solutions.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [60]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [24]
Agriculture [25]
Biodiversity [41]
Climate Change [3]
Diversity [61]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Justice [28]
Environmental Politics [29]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Food [30]
Forests [62]
Government [31]
Health [32]
Natural Resources [14]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [63]
People & Population [33]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [64]
Technology [5]
Waste [48]
Water & Oceans [18]
Wildlife [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
International [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [58]
Methane and Climate Change Toolbox [65]

Levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, have doubled in the past 150 years due to human activity, particularly from fossil fuels and extensive farming. As part of an ongoing Society of Environmental Journalists special project focused on covering climate solutions, check out a methane resource toolbox and stay tuned for a methane reporting tipsheet in the coming weeks. Plus, watch the recording [66] of an SEJ virtual webinar, Covering Climate Solutions: Containing and Monitoring Methane.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [60]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [25]
Air [67]
Climate Change [3]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Studies [45]
Government [31]
Journalism & Media [4]
Laws & Regulations [46]
Natural Resources [14]
Policy [16]
Pollution [47]
Science [17]
Technology [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [68]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [69]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [70]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [53]
International [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Methane and Climate Change Toolbox [65]
NOAA Data Portal Is a Great Home Port for Environmental Journalists [71]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration database is as vast as the oceans the agency monitors and filled with information collected by a wide array of instruments operating above, below and on the water’s surface. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox delves into the NOAA Data Discovery Portal and takes a look at a new search tool that promises easier exploration of this treasure trove.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [67]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [26]
Environmental Studies [45]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Government [31]
Journalism & Media [4]
Science [17]
Technology [5]
Water & Oceans [18]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about NOAA Data Portal Is a Great Home Port for Environmental Journalists [71]
Can Qatar’s World Cup Really Be Carbon Neutral? [72]

Qatar — the world’s highest carbon emitter on a per capita basis — made big promises in its winning bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. But will they deliver? Doha-based journalism professor Craig LaMay writes that while sports megaevent hosts face increasing pressure to address environmental concerns, critical coverage of their follow-through is challenging, especially in countries with no free press or public right to government information.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [27]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Politics [29]
Government [31]
Infrastructure [13]
Journalism & Media [4]
Natural Resources [14]
Technology [5]
Transportation [39]
Waste [48]
Water & Oceans [18]
Region:
International [7]
Canada [73]
Africa [34]
Asia [35]
Europe [55]
Middle East [36]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Can Qatar’s World Cup Really Be Carbon Neutral? [72]

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