Publication Items

How Climate Change Complicates the Refugee Crisis [1]

The displacement of populations by climate impacts, while not a new phenomenon in human history, is worsening in the face of global warming’s extreme weather patterns. Yet the extensive international regime to aid refugees doesn’t cover those migrating due to flooding, drought, natural disasters or climate change. Backgrounder considers the implications and how nations will respond to the new realities.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
People & Population [6]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
California [9]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [10]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [12]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [13]
International [14]
Mexico [15]
Africa [16]
Antarctica & Arctic [17]
Asia [18]
Central America & the Caribbean [19]
Europe [20]
Middle East [21]
South America [22]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about How Climate Change Complicates the Refugee Crisis [1]
Will Your Local Dam Turn Deadly in the Next Big Storm? [24]

The devastating death toll and damage from Hurricane Helene are a dire warning of the risks of extreme weather and flooding. But one notable hazard is that such flooding may overwhelm any one of the thousands of small, neglected U.S. dams. TipSheet examines the issue and offers more than a dozen story angles and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Infrastructure [26]
Journalism & Media [27]
Laws & Regulations [28]
Water & Oceans [29]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
California [9]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [12]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about Will Your Local Dam Turn Deadly in the Next Big Storm? [24]
Grant Brings Documentary Team to Chesapeake Bay’s Vastness [30]

New York-based documentarians Sebastian Tuinder and Duy Linh Tu took their multimedia skills on the road to explore the environmental problems plaguing the Chesapeake Bay. The resulting project, “Trouble in the Chesapeake,” was nominated for a local Emmy award and was credited with helping efforts to curb over-the-limit discharges from Maryland’s wastewater plants. Lessons learned from the grant-funded effort, in the latest FEJ StoryLog.

SEJ Publication Types:
FEJ StoryLog [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [32]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [33]
Fish & Fisheries [34]
Journalism & Media [27]
Natural Resources [35]
Pollution [36]
Waste [37]
Water & Oceans [29]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about Grant Brings Documentary Team to Chesapeake Bay’s Vastness [30]
Sea Surface Temperature Data Tells Many Environmental Stories [38]

With hurricane season expected to kick into high gear, a key data source for reporters is sea surface temperatures. But this widely available information can also tell reporters something about many other water-related environment stories, whether algal blooms, bacterial risks to public health or the prospects for entire estuarine systems. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox helps you dip your toe into this important data pool.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [33]
Fish & Fisheries [34]
Health [40]
Journalism & Media [27]
Science [41]
Water & Oceans [29]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [12]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [13]
International [14]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about Sea Surface Temperature Data Tells Many Environmental Stories [38]
Sniffing Out Invasive Plant Species — Conservation Canines in Action [42]

Plant species that take root outside their normal range and spread aggressively are wreaking havoc in ecosystems worldwide. But specially trained detection dogs are on the job, following their noses to find the invaders so they can be eradicated. Contributor Nancy Castaldo reports on a demo of this conservation tool by a scent-savvy Lab and his devoted handler.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [44]
Climate Change [3]
Forests [45]
Science [41]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [46]
International [14]
Europe [20]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about Sniffing Out Invasive Plant Species — Conservation Canines in Action [42]
‘Green’ Steel: Five Things To Know About the U.S. Transition [47]

Plans for two new U.S. facilities that will use hydrogen instead of coal to make steel hold the promise of decarbonizing this essential but dirty industry. But don’t expect overnight change. Reporter Maria Gallucci looks at the complexities of making the switch, from ditching the blast furnace to reducing pollution all along the supply chain.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [48]
Air [49]
Chemicals [50]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [51]
Energy & Fuel [52]
Environmental Health [33]
Environmental Justice [53]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [54]
Natural Resources [35]
Policy [7]
Pollution [36]
Science [41]
Technology [55]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [56]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [13]
International [14]
Europe [20]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about ‘Green’ Steel: Five Things To Know About the U.S. Transition [47]
Philly Steaks Out New Ground [57]

It just wouldn’t be the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference recap without the waggish tales of SEJ’s resident wit, David Helvarg, who once again this year skewers the lot of us, sparing not a jot of our five days in Philadelphia. Read on and prepare to snicker.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [58]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [32]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [51]
Energy & Fuel [52]
Environmental Politics [5]
Food [59]
Government [54]
Health [40]
Infrastructure [26]
Journalism & Media [27]
Natural Resources [35]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [60]
Policy [7]
Pollution [36]
Technology [55]
Transportation [61]
Waste [37]
Water & Oceans [29]
Wildlife [62]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about Philly Steaks Out New Ground [57]
LNG To Fuel Conflict, Profit, Warming in Coming Years [63]

A partisan debate has flared over liquified natural gas, as industry, environmentalists and politicians wrangle over LNG’s role in climate change and the energy transition, heating and electricity prices, and international and domestic U.S. politics. Backgrounder lays out LNG’s history, starting with the fracking boom and bringing it up to speed with the war in Ukraine and upcoming presidential elections.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [48]
Chemicals [50]
Climate Change [3]
Energy & Fuel [52]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [54]
Laws & Regulations [28]
Natural Resources [35]
Policy [7]
Pollution [36]
Technology [55]
Transportation [61]
Water & Oceans [29]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Alaska and Hawaii [64]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [12]
International [14]
Canada [65]
Mexico [15]
Asia [18]
Europe [20]
Middle East [21]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about LNG To Fuel Conflict, Profit, Warming in Coming Years [63]
Award-Winning Beat Reporting Highlights Legacy of Environmental Racism [66]

Top-flight regional reporting (and data analysis) that explored inequities between Black and white communities around Baltimore, Maryland, yielded journalist Scott Dance a wide range of stories — and a first-place prize in the most recent awards from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Dance, now on the climate desk for The Washington Post shares insights from the beat in the new Inside Story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [67]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [32]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Justice [53]
Fish & Fisheries [34]
Health [40]
Journalism & Media [27]
People & Population [6]
Planning & Growth [68]
Policy [7]
Pollution [36]
Water & Oceans [29]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about Award-Winning Beat Reporting Highlights Legacy of Environmental Racism [66]
How Ice Fishing Can Break the Ice on Your Local Climate Story [69]

What does dragging an old car onto an ice-covered lake have to do with informing your community about the perils of climate heating? Potentially a good deal. The latest TipSheet explains how waning winters and the potential impact on the entertaining tradition of ice fishing can serve as an entry into more serious matters. A dozen story ideas and resources to get you started.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [33]
Fish & Fisheries [34]
Journalism & Media [27]
Natural Resources [35]
People & Population [6]
Water & Oceans [29]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [56]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [10]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [70]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [46]
Visibility:
Public [23]
- Read more about How Ice Fishing Can Break the Ice on Your Local Climate Story [69]

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