Consumer

People & Population [8]

Pollution [9]

Water & Oceans [10]

Public [11]

Source: E&E News [13], 03/31/2021

Read more about Lead Pipes: Biden Visit Highlights Pittsburgh Water Contamination Woes [1]

"'Buyer Beware': Ads Hide PFAS Cookware Risks" [14]

"Consumers trying to avoid toxic chemicals in their nonstick cookware face convoluted advertising claims that can confuse even the most well-informed buyers."

Chemicals [2]

Consumer [3]

Environmental Health [4]

Public [11]

Source: E&E News [16], 03/25/2021

Read more about "'Buyer Beware': Ads Hide PFAS Cookware Risks" [14]

Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [17]

A much-anticipated infrastructure bill in Congress could help address the United States’ poorly rated roads, pipes and powerlines. But could the massive measure also do the heavy lifting for much-needed climate policy? The latest Backgrounder takes a deep dive into the context around climate-friendly infrastructure legislation, and looks ahead on what’s expected and how to report it.

SEJ Publication Types:

Backgrounders [18]

Topics on the Beat:

Activism [19]

Consumer [3]

Energy & Fuel [21]

Government [22]

Infrastructure [23]

Planning & Growth [24]

Policy [25]

Pollution [9]

Technology [26]

Transportation [27]

Region:

Visibility:

Public [11]

Read more about Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [17]

Countries Tried to Curb Trade in Plastic Waste. The US Is Shipping More [28]

"Data shows that American exporters continue to ship plastic waste overseas, often to poorer countries, even though most of the world has agreed to not accept it."

"When more than 180 nations agreed last year to place strict limits on exports of plastic waste from richer countries to poorer ones, the move was seen as a major victory in the fight against plastic pollution.

Chemicals [2]

Consumer [3]

Economy & Business [29]

Pollution [9]

Waste [30]

Public [11]

International [31]

Source: NYTimes [32], 03/15/2021

Read more about Countries Tried to Curb Trade in Plastic Waste. The US Is Shipping More [28]

"New Research Shows Just How Many Fish Are Eating Plastic" [33]

"Each year the amount of plastic swirling in ocean gyres and surfing the tide toward coastal beaches seems to increase. So too does the amount of plastic particles being consumed by fish — including species that help feed billions of people around the world."

Chemicals [2]

Consumer [3]

Environmental Health [4]

Fish & Fisheries [34]

Pollution [9]

Water & Oceans [10]

Public [11]

International [31]

Source: The Revelator [35], 03/10/2021

Read more about "New Research Shows Just How Many Fish Are Eating Plastic" [33]

Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [36]

From cardigans to orange tans, the history of presidential politics around energy efficiency has been an odd one. But the story of so-called nega-watts is actually a compelling one. And with new efficiency rules being eyed by the Biden administration, it’s also time for reporters to explore the local angle to energy savings. Our latest TipSheet explains how.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [37]

Topics on the Beat:

Consumer [3]

Energy & Fuel [21]

Government [22]

Policy [25]

Science [38]

Technology [26]

Region:

Visibility:

Public [11]

Read more about Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [36]

Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [39]

The power and water fiasco that followed a deep freeze in Texas was a predictable debacle and, thus, a warning signal to journalists covering disasters and climate-driven weather extremes. To help, the latest Reporter’s Toolbox provides a rundown of data sources about power grids, from local, regional and national entities, and recommends you start tracking the numbers and be prepared.

SEJ Publication Types:

Reporters Toolbox [40]

Topics on the Beat:

Consumer [3]

Disasters [41]

Energy & Fuel [21]

Government [22]

Infrastructure [23]

Planning & Growth [24]

Region:

Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [42]

Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [43]

Visibility:

Public [11]

Read more about Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [39]

Can Biden Stop Invisible Climate Threat Seeping From Store Freezers? [44]

"Some of the climate impacts of a grocery store trip are obvious, like the fuel it takes to get there and the electricity that keeps its lights glowing, conveyor belts moving and scanners beeping. But then there are the invisible gases seeping out into the atmosphere when you reach for your ice cream of choice."

Chemicals [2]

Consumer [3]

Public [11]

Source: Washington Post [45], 02/16/2021

Read more about Can Biden Stop Invisible Climate Threat Seeping From Store Freezers? [44]

Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [46]

A computer hacker nearly succeeded recently in rendering a local Florida facility a source of poisonous drinking water. And the risk of other such hacks is real, even as the vulnerabilities are hidden behind stringent U.S. secrecy laws. The latest TipSheet explores dangers to our drinking water supply — which go well beyond future hacking.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [37]

Topics on the Beat:

Consumer [3]

Disasters [41]

Government [22]

Health [47]

Infrastructure [23]

People & Population [8]

Pollution [9]

Technology [26]

Water & Oceans [10]

Region:

Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [48]

SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [49]

Visibility:

Public [11]

Read more about Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [46]

Seeding Climate Stories in the Backyard Garden [50]

Spring may be weeks away, but gardeners are already browsing the seed catalogs, and that makes it a good time for environmental journalists to apprise them of how climate change will affect their backyard patches. Reporter’s Toolbox talks “hardiness zones” and explains why one of the usual repositories of government information may fall short. That plus, story sources to, well, cultivate.

SEJ Publication Types:

Reporters Toolbox [40]

Topics on the Beat:

Agriculture [51]

Consumer [3]

Food [52]

Region: