Publication Items

How a Distant Chapter in Spice Trade Foretells Today’s Climate Chaos [1]

When Europeans colonized remote Indonesian islands centuries ago to dominate the trade in nutmeg and cloves, they were repeating a pattern of domination of peoples and nature that author Amitav Ghosh argues in his latest book has brought us to the present-day environmental crisis. BookShelf reviewer Melody Kemp offers praise for the book’s strong narrative qualities and incisive historical analysis.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Food [7]
Natural Resources [8]
People & Population [9]
Policy [10]
Region:
International [11]
Asia [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about How a Distant Chapter in Spice Trade Foretells Today’s Climate Chaos [1]
Climate Censorship, Part II, Courtesy Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board [14]

A new quarrel over climate reporting, prompted by an editorial charging “censorship,” has the WatchDog troubled by the difficulty of finding a path for transparency. The latest WatchDog Opinion takes a look at the dispute, how online platforms like Twitter fit in and the limits of the laws on disinformation in the United States and Europe, all as part of an effort to chart a path forward for journalism.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [15]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [16]
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Politics [6]
Journalism & Media [17]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
International [11]
Europe [20]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Climate Censorship, Part II, Courtesy Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board [14]
Environmental Reporting Through an Indigenous Perspective [21]

Indigenous communities that have tried to live in balance with nature have seen their practices largely ignored. But now many have turned to them for guidance. As part of a special initiative from the Society of Environmental Journalists on covering climate solutions, we offer a tipsheet from journalist Brian Bull on reporting on how Indigenous people use nature-based environmental solutions. Also, check out additional resources [22] and watch video from an earlier webinar [23].

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [16]
Agriculture [3]
Air [25]
Biodiversity [26]
Climate Change [4]
Diversity [27]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [29]
Food [7]
Forests [30]
Government [31]
Health [32]
Journalism & Media [17]
Natural Resources [8]
People & Population [9]
Policy [10]
Pollution [33]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [34]
Water & Oceans [35]
Wildlife [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
Northwest (OR WA) [37]
International [11]
Canada [38]
Australia & Oceania [39]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Environmental Reporting Through an Indigenous Perspective [21]
Fossil Fuels Registry Promises Global Warming Data. Does It Deliver? [40]

A new global fossil fuels registry sounds like a breakthrough for covering climate change and energy stories. But Reporter’s Toolbox inspected it and found potentially problematic data sourcing and accuracy. That doesn’t mean that it won’t be useful as one of several tools to help report the beat. Here’s how to make the most of fossil fuel data sources.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [16]
Climate Change [4]
Energy & Fuel [42]
Journalism & Media [17]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
International [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Fossil Fuels Registry Promises Global Warming Data. Does It Deliver? [40]
COP 27 Egypt — From Afar, How UN Meeting Will Affect Climate Change Reporting [43]

How will the UN’s yearly climate treaty talks in Egypt next month touch domestic U.S. reporting? The latest Backgrounder has an outlook, with close attention to the question of compensation for nations suffering the worst impacts of global warming, plus the politics of war and energy, methane and HFCs. The prospects for action in and after Egypt.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [45]
Energy & Fuel [42]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [31]
Journalism & Media [17]
Policy [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
International [11]
Mexico [46]
Africa [47]
Asia [12]
Australia & Oceania [39]
Central America & the Caribbean [48]
Europe [20]
Middle East [49]
South America [50]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about COP 27 Egypt — From Afar, How UN Meeting Will Affect Climate Change Reporting [43]
On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [51]

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 [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [16]
Biodiversity [26]
Chemicals [53]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [54]
Economy & Business [55]
Energy & Fuel [42]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Studies [56]
Fish & Fisheries [29]
Government [31]
Infrastructure [57]
Journalism & Media [17]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Natural Resources [8]
Policy [10]
Pollution [33]
Science [58]
Technology [59]
Waste [60]
Water & Oceans [35]
Wildlife [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
Alaska and Hawaii [61]
California [62]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [63]
Northwest (OR WA) [37]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [64]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [65]
International [11]
Mexico [46]
Africa [47]
Asia [12]
Europe [20]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [51]
Air Conditioner HFCs Are on the Way Out — The Kigali Amendment Explained [66]

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 [67]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [53]
Climate Change [4]
Economy & Business [55]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [31]
Journalism & Media [17]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Policy [10]
Pollution [33]
Technology [59]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
International [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Air Conditioner HFCs Are on the Way Out — The Kigali Amendment Explained [66]
Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [22]

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 [23] on covering Indigenous communities and nature-based climate solutions.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [16]
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [26]
Climate Change [4]
Diversity [27]
Energy & Fuel [42]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [29]
Food [7]
Forests [30]
Government [31]
Health [32]
Natural Resources [8]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [68]
People & Population [9]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [34]
Technology [59]
Waste [60]
Water & Oceans [35]
Wildlife [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
International [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [22]
Author Shares Unorthodox Look at the Ways of Water [69]

How water moves through the global ecosystem and shapes our landscapes is the subject of a must-read new book by writer Erica Gies, according to BookShelf editor Tom Henry. A significant part of water’s story is how humanity invariably fails when trying to manipulate it. But hope may reside with Gies’ various “water detectives,” who explore how to “let water go where it wants to go.”

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Health [28]
Natural Resources [8]
Water & Oceans [35]
Wildlife [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
California [62]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [70]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [71]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [64]
International [11]
Canada [38]
Africa [47]
Asia [12]
Europe [20]
Middle East [49]
South America [50]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Author Shares Unorthodox Look at the Ways of Water [69]
Methane, a Key Global Warming Source, Is Targeted by Nations [72]

Carbon dioxide may get more attention, but the second-most damaging greenhouse gas, methane, is now the focus of a global pledge to cut emissions 30% by 2030. As part of a Society of Environmental Journalists publishing project focused on covering climate solutions, we take a closer look at methane with energy reporter Nushin Huq. A primer on the climate-related problems of methane and the promise of methane-based solutions. Plus, watch a recent SEJ methane solutions webinar [73] and see our Methane and Climate Change Toolbox [74].

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [53]
Climate Change [4]
Energy & Fuel [42]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Politics [6]
Environmental Studies [56]
Government [31]
Journalism & Media [17]
Natural Resources [8]
Policy [10]
Pollution [33]
Region:
National (U.S.) [19]
Alaska and Hawaii [61]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [71]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [75]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [64]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [65]
International [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Methane, a Key Global Warming Source, Is Targeted by Nations [72]

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