Although the realities of the pandemic may mean fewer state and local ballot measures in the upcoming election — and the presidential contest is drawing much of the spotlight — they can still be potentially fruitful stories for reporters willing to seek them out. Here are eight top ways to track this year’s environment and energy ballot measures, from the latest Reporter’s Toolbox.
This free Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources online workshop for journalists will explore the past, present and potential future of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Registration opens Sep 21 to the first 25 registrants.
"The deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana this year which had baffled and alarmed conservationists were caused by toxins produced by cyanobacteria in water, officials said on Monday."
"Wildfires in Western states aren't slowing down and conspiracy theories about who started them are only making things harder for responders."
"NEWARK, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Friday a measure giving state regulators power to deny development permits to businesses whose operations pollute predominantly Black and other minority communities."
"An international team of prominent scientists has published what they say is the most comprehensive study to date calculating the complex climate impact of aviation emissions, reaffirming that contrail clouds produce more warming than carbon dioxide."
"The GOP incumbent is linked to Trump, while the moderate, pro-fracking, former Democratic governor is called “Frackenlooper” by progressives."
"As the United Nations turns 75 this year, the world body keeps churning out increasingly grim reports on the global threats it was created to ameliorate. Biodiversity is being destroyed, climate change is accelerating, war and famine are creating more refugees than ever in human history, the world body warns."
"The wildfires blazing in the West could hinder developing lungs, worsen asthma and even lead to the condition in those who don’t have it but are genetically disposed to it."
"SAN FRANCISCO — Ian MacDonald, a 14-year-old in Portland, Ore., got a treat from his parents the other day. He was allowed to go outside.
"The passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could shake the foundation of America's bedrock environmental laws, leaving a chasm on the bench where once sat an environmental champion."
Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/reporters-toolbox/chase-down-environmental-ballot-measures-state-level-stories
[2] https://www.sej.org/calendar/ijnr-virtual-workshop-journalists-changes-epa
[3] https://www.sej.org/headlines/botswana-says-toxins-water-cause-mysterious-elephant-deaths
[4] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-botswana-elephants/botswana-says-toxins-in-water-cause-of-mysterious-elephant-deaths-idUSKCN26C0WA
[5] https://www.sej.org/headlines/conspiracies-add-fuel-already-challenging-wildfire-season
[6] https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/911869370/conspiracies-add-fuel-to-an-already-challenging-wildfire-season
[7] https://www.sej.org/headlines/new-jersey-law-seeks-stem-pollution-minority-areas
[8] https://apnews.com/7f37c66ef793c03bd658ef1373741013
[9] https://www.sej.org/headlines/scientists-take-closest-look-yet-warming-impact-aviation-emissions
[10] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17092020/aviation-emissions-climate-change-greenhouse-gas
[11] https://www.sej.org/headlines/colo-where-climate-matters-hickenlooper-favored-unseat-gardner
[12] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/18092020/senate-2020-colorado-climate-wildfire-cory-gardner-john-hickenlooper
[13] https://www.sej.org/headlines/climate-week-absent-world-leaders-worsen-un-s-gridlock-75
[14] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-21/absent-world-leaders-worsen-un-s-gridlock-and-frustrations-at-75?srnd=green
[15] https://www.sej.org/headlines/does-not-look-good-children-fires-pose-risk-young-lungs
[16] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/health/wildfires-children-lungs.html?smid=tw-nythealth&smtyp=cur
[17] https://www.sej.org/headlines/supreme-court-ginsburg-death-leaves-no-environmental-voice-bench
[18] https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063714165
[19] https://www.sej.org/search_results
[20] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1611
[21] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1608
[22] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1609
[23] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1610
[24] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1613
[25] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1614
[26] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1615
[27] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=1616
[28] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=5000