"Azerbaijan’s ecology minister has been named to lead the United Nations’ annual climate talks later this year, prompting concern from some climate activists over his former ties to the state oil company in a major oil-producing nation."
"It’s not just toxic chemical waste and mysterious barrels that litter the seafloor off the coast of Los Angeles. Oceanographers have now discovered what appears to be a massive dumping ground of military weaponry."
When freelancer Rachel Nuwer decided to tackle a controversial story about trophy hunting and wildlife conservation she confronted not only tricky logistics and demanding field work, but last-minute publication conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic. But with a grant and an understanding editor, she got her clip and a new commitment to continue covering similarly challenging topics. Nuwer shares her experience in the new FEJ StoryLog.
Health and environmental concerns about some beauty items — like the use of formaldehyde in certain hair straighteners — have started to emerge as a focus for federal regulation. But as the latest TipSheet points out, the response has been slow and fitful. Meanwhile, here are story ideas and resources to help reporters find local angles for this environmental and public health hazard.
Have questions about how EJToday curates its daily weekday digest of top environmental/energy news headlines of that day? Check out our FAQ, with answers to questions like what EJToday’s purpose is, how EJToday is produced and what criteria EJToday uses to select its headlines.
Hearken, Trusting News and Solutions Journalism Network are inviting 20 U.S.-based newsroom teams to apply for this fellowship which is designed to help newsrooms think big, plan long term and reinvent coverage of politics, governance and elections with and for their communities. Deadline is Jan 22, 2024.
Meet SEJ member Alex Ip! Born and raised in Hong Kong, Alex is the Founder and Editor in Chief of The Xylom, a student-led newsroom exploring the communities influencing and shaped by science. He also recently led a team to translate the KSJ Science Editing Handbook into Chinese (Traditional and Simplified).
"The recovery of seagrass, the manatees’ favorite food, in Mosquito Lagoon means that an emergency hand-feeding program that has kept many of the starving aquatic animals alive over the last two winters can be discontinued, at least temporarily."
"A recent study from The Environmental Working Group found that just one serving of fish can be equivalent to a month of drinking water contaminated with 48 parts per trillion of the common chemical PFOS."
"Several companies registered in Latin American countries claiming to have U.N. endorsement have persuaded Indigenous communities to hand over the economic rights to their forests for decades to come, a Mongabay investigation has found. The companies share commercial interests across various jurisdictions, and have not been able to demonstrate experience in sustainable finance projects."
