Latest news with #SocietyofEnvironmentalJournalists
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How weather reporting is evolving because of climate change
Environmental journalists spoke at the Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Tempe on April 26 to discuss how weather reporting is evolving in response to climate change. The panelists included Sadie Babits, senior supervising climate editor at NPR; Jessica Meszaros, a reporter for west-central Florida's NPR station; Amber Sullins, chief meteorologist for ABC15 in Phoenix; and Paige Vega, climate editor for Vox. Here are three takeaways from their conversation. Publicly available weather information should not be taken for granted, Vega said. A substantial amount of weather and forecast data comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But changes made by the Trump administration will change that data's quality, she said. 'One thing that has happened that is new just in this last month — the weather data we are getting from the agency is likely going to be less reliable, just as they're releasing fewer weather balloons and there is less agency staff to actually do the work,' Vega said. 'I don't think a lot of people or readers or viewers or listeners realize the stakes of this moment and the work that NOAA does.' Sullins said that after the election, she knew climate data could be a target. At ABC15, she is trying to stay ahead of the curve by working with her team to track down and record every statistic that she and other reporters at her station might want to use that may not be available in the future, she said. 'In our case, we were literally pulling the data and screenshotting it so that we could at least have a picture of what it looked like,' she said. Sullins said that at the local level, after a natural disaster, the responsibility of a news organization is to help people address basic human needs. Beyond that, she said, journalists must be strategic about incorporating the concept of climate change into disaster and other coverage by drawing connections for their audiences. 'I think the more the climate changes here in Phoenix, the more the news that we need to cover is fitting in under climate change,' she said. 'You take the heat and the homeless population, and we had more than 500 people die in Maricopa County alone last summer. So these news stories of homeless people dying on the streets are now climate stories, we have to make those connections and connect the dots.' She also gave the example of saguaro cactuses. Recent extremely hot summers have caused some to die. Arizonans love saguaros, and connecting their deaths to extreme heat helps audiences understand climate change's effects, she said. The panelists said producing stories about things people are doing to combat and adjust to climate change can help audiences stay engaged with environmental news. 'We hear a lot of apocalyptic news, not just in the climate space, and I am really eager for stories that point us toward solutions,' Babits said. Sullins said meaningful work is being done to address climate change across the country. 'Here in Arizona, even if everyone doesn't want to call it climate change,' Sullins said. 'Everyone knows it's getting hotter, and everyone is working toward solutions to mitigate that heat.' McKenna Manzo is a senior at the University of Arizona and is part of a student newsroom led by The Arizona Republic. Coverage of the Society of Environmental Journalists conference is supported by Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism, the University of Arizona, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Arizona Media Association. These stories are published open-source for other news outlets and organizations to share and republish, with credit and links to This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How weather reporting is evolving because of climate change
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is Phoenix sustainable? Experts tell SEJ conference the region plans for heat, drought
As a major city in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix has been in the spotlight in the debate over the sustainability of urban development, so much so that it's gained the reputation for being an "uninhabitable hellscape." But some on a panel at the 2025 Society of Environmental Journalists conference on April 25 argued that while Phoenix has its fair share of environmental and sustainability concerns — notably extreme heat and water shortages — a habitable future is still in reach. Water remains a major concern over the sustainability of Phoenix, especially on the Colorado River, and by extension, the Central Arizona Project. The CAP is a system of pipes, tunnels and aqueducts designed to bring water from the river to Indigenous communities and populous regions of the state. Kathryn Sorensen, director of research at Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University said a plan for the Valley has been in the works in case Colorado River water runs low. She said the plan is to fall back on other water supplies like the Salt River, the Verde River and groundwater. 'It would be highly disruptive – I don't want to minimize that,' Sorensen said. 'But it is something that the municipal water planners have known about, it's something they have planned for, and we have taken care of our aquifer exactly for that contingency.' But groundwater management remains a contentious battle. Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon Chapter, said she sees this play out at the state Legislature, especially when it comes to the Groundwater Management Act, a law passed in 1980 that established rules for pumping groundwater. 'What I've seen in my time at the Legislature is whittling away at the protections that were in that Groundwater Management Act — weakening it, finding ways around it,' she said 'Yes, we require a 100-year assured water supply in Active Management Areas … but there are all kinds of ways to get around that, and developers are very influential at the city and the state level.' One way certain actors try to skirt the rules, she said, is to challenge the legitimacy of models showing that an area doesn't have the required 100-year supply and calling for other calculations to be used. Even so, Sorensen said there are reasons to remain optimistic, including increased efficiency in plumbing and appliances like washing machines, local efforts to reclaim and reuse wastewater and removal of grass lawns in exchange for more desert-adapted landscaping. Phoenix is also notorious for its extreme temperatures, but some neighborhoods, like the Grant Park Neighborhood in south Phoenix, suffer from it more than others. That's why community volunteers like Silverio Ontiveros are doing their best to plant trees so the neighborhood gets enough shade. Ontiveros said nonprofit organizations and community groups have previously worked with the neighborhood to plant trees, but maintaining them has proven difficult. 'We've planted … around 300 trees, and I would guestimate probably around a third of them are still alive today, only because they don't get watered,' Ontiveros said. One reason for this, he said, is that neighborhood residents don't have the know-how to maintain the trees. He also attributes the tree shortage to the fact that many properties in the neighborhood are rented, and landlords don't want to shoulder the cost of tree planting and maintenance. City officials are also making efforts to plant trees in the areas, often using resident feedback and identifying places with the most need, like areas with high pedestrian activity and transportation use, said Willa Altman-Kaough, deputy chief of staff to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Altman-Kaough also emphasized the need for other shade structures for places like street intersections that aren't hospitable for trees. All of these factors taken into consideration, journalist and author Tom Zoellner said the narrative of an unsustainable Phoenix, largely fueled by apocalyptic media coverage of the hot 2023 summer, 'doesn't take into account the tremendous adaptivity that has always been a feature of this particular state.' Naomi DuBovis is a journalism student at Arizona State University, and is part of a student newsroom led by The Arizona Republic. Coverage of the Society of Environmental Journalists conference is supported by Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism, the University of Arizona, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Arizona Media Association. These stories are published open-source for other news outlets and organizations to share and republish, with credit and links to This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: SEJ 2025: Panelists debate the question of whether Phoenix is sustainable
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How can Arizona mines produce key minerals and not harm the environment?
After the U.S. imposed new tariffs, China responded by restricting exports of several rare earth minerals critical to American defense and medical technologies. To protect national security, the U.S. must produce more of these minerals domestically, panelists at the Society of Environmental Journalists said April 25 at their 2025 conference in Tempe. Securing critical minerals like copper, zinc and manganese inside the U.S. is now seen as a top priority, with minerals needed for a vast range of electric devices. While mining is necessary for national security and maintaining domestic supply chains, the panelists said, the mining industry also needs to address environmental concerns and Indigenous rights. Arizona is at the center of America's mineral future. The Hermosa Project, operated by South32 in the Patagonia Mountains southeast of Tucson, is one of the few advanced mining projects in the U.S. focused on critical minerals like manganese and zinc. "What we have is one of the largest undeveloped deposits of zinc in the world, co-located with a high-purity, battery-grade manganese deposit on the same site," said Pat Risner, president of South32 Hermosa, noting some of the project's environmental advantages. "We'll use 90% less water than a typical mining operation.' At the same time, Arizona's heavy legacy from past mining — abandoned mines, contaminated water and damaged ecosystems — remains an important backdrop. Strong environmental protections must guide new projects, said Misael Cabrera, director of the University of Arizona's School of Mining and Mineral Resources. "There are very few countries that have environmental laws, and even fewer that enforce them. But we have environmental laws, and we enforce them," he said. Panelists agreed that developing domestic mines is necessary, but it must not come by weakening environmental laws. Cabrera said delays in mining projects often come from administrative slowdowns, not stricter environmental rules. "Speeding up permitting isn't about skipping protections," he said. "It's about cutting dead time where nothing happens." They also discussed new executive orders from President Donald Trump aimed at fast-tracking mining permits. But panelists warned that even with those orders, companies must still fully build an administrative record that can hold up in court. "No executive order can erase those laws," Cabrera said. "And companies know if they cut corners, they'll be challenged in court." There are concerns from local communities, tribes and conservation groups regarding new mining projects. Water use, endangered species and tribal sovereignty remain big issues. China controls much of the mineral processing needed for clean energy and advanced technologies, panelists said. Melissa Sanderson, director at American Rare Earths, an international mining company, warned that even if the U.S. government tried to fast-track mining through emergency powers, new mines would still take years to build. "Even with all the necessary resources, you don't get a mine overnight," she said, noting that new projects may not be ready until 2029. She called the current situation a "huge window of vulnerability" for the U.S., especially if it fails to coordinate efforts with international partners. She added that the U.S. needs to work with allies like the European Union and Canada to build independent processing capacity. "We can't go it alone, but we can go together with allies and friends," she said. Tribes, opponents vow fight: Trump puts Oak Flat copper mine on permitting fast track Tufan Neupane is a graduate student of journalism at Arizona State University and is part of a student newsroom led by The Arizona Republic. Coverage of the Society of Environmental Journalists conference is supported by Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism, the University of Arizona and the Arizona Media Association. These stories are published open-source for other news outlets and organizations to share and republish, with credit and links to This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can Arizona mines produce key minerals and not harm the environment?
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Renewable energy, electric cars have become politicized under Trump, advocates say
Renewable energy sources have become politicized, especially in light of President Donald Trump's second inauguration earlier this year, advocates say, and electric vehicles have become symbols of the climate crisis in general. Trump's first 95 days were the focus of a panel at the 2025 Society of Environmental Journalists conference on April 25 in Tempe. Trisha DelloIacono, head of policy at CALSTART, said that there have been landmark, immediate changes as a result of Trump's second administration. 'We've seen dramatic federal shifts in these first 95 days,' DelloIacono said. She also shared a quote she found inspiring, which she said summarizes the mission of environmentalists in the fight against the climate crisis through electric and zero-emission vehicles. According to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, quoted by DelloIacono, environmentalists 'need to meet the (climate) crisis and chaos with courage.' DelloIacono said the Trump administration is actively fighting against legislation such as the California Clean Air Act waiver, which allows California to pursue car emissions standards that are stricter than federal standards. Emily Wirzba, the director of federal affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund, agreed that the rapid and ever-changing landscape of the climate crisis can be summarized by the dichotomy surrounding electric vehicles. Wirzba said the tax credits associated with electric vehicles is one of the main aspects of the changes. 'The next couple weeks are the most important time to watch these credits,' she said. Wirzba was referring to the enactment of tariffs and other climate economic changes made by Trump's administration. Zack Ruderman, vice president of sales and marketing at Orange EV, and Asaf Nagler, vice president of external affairs at ABB E-mobility North America, represented the production side of the electric vehicle industry. Ruderman said he was frustrated with the way Orange EV has had to adapt to the changing landscape of the industry. 'It's been paralyzing, because of how dynamic things have been (during the Biden administration),' he said. 'It changes, and changes again. You come up with a new plan … at that point you're just dizzy.' Ruderman said the Orange EV engineering team has had to devote time to trying out new production pieces in order to reduce the internal impact of Trump's proposed tariffs. Orange EV, alongside its customers, have spent 'a lot of time planning, and replanning and replanning' their production and acquisition strategies in the wake of the new administration. 'Tariffs are stifling the ability to bring over these important parts we need for these (electric) vehicles,' DelloIacono said. Nagler, part of an electric-charging manufacturing conglomerate, said that uncertainty has been 'very much the case' in the electric vehicle and renewable energy industries. He argued that electrification, when it comes to vehicles and beyond, is not a partisan issue, but one of financial acumen. But, Wirzba said the outlook on the electric vehicle market and renewable energy in general is not completely dim. 'I'm not gonna say it's gonna be easy,' she said. 'There's a lot more work that needs to be done.' What to know: Electric and alt-fuel cars may lose access to Arizona's HOV lanes Bella Mazzilli is a reporter at State News Magazine at Arizona State University and is part of a student newsroom led by The Arizona Republic. Coverage of the Society of Environmental Journalists conference is supported by Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism, the University of Arizona, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Arizona Media Association. These stories are published open-source for other news outlets and organizations to share and republish, with credit and links to This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Electric cars, renewable energy caught up in politics, advocates say
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Climate programs will struggle for support, attention under Trump, speakers say
Reflecting on the first 95 days of President Donald Trump's administration, panelists at the opening session of the 2025 Society of Environmental Journalists conference were not hopeful for the future. Nada Wolff Culver, former principal deputy director of the Bureau of Land Management, said the landscape of climate change and covering the crisis is uncertain. '(There's been) a lot of undoing. (The Trump administration) is trying to get the word 'climate' out of our vocabulary,' Culver said. Culver, one of four panelists at the opening session of the conference in Tempe, said the term "climate" is often censored depending on the presidential administration in power. 'We're not going to have the same federal backstop as we have had in the past,' said Anne Hedges, executive director of Montana Environmental Information Center. The 'federal backstop' she was referring to was a lack of support in the federal government and higher-level judiciary spheres for climate change. This sentiment was echoed by Culver. '(There is) less certainty that the courts will be able to save and protect us,' Culver said. On the topic of uncertainty, Lena Gonzalez, majority leader of the California State Senate, said the process of accessing FEMA relief funds in the wake of the Palisades and Eaton fires was 'like a little chess game.' Gonzalez said her work in the Senate, attempting to pass environmentally minded climate crisis solution bills, has been similar to the chess dichotomy she mentioned. She said Senate Bill 1137, known as the Setbacks Bill, was specifically difficult to pass and implement in the Golden State. The measure, implemented in June 2024, created a more than 3,000-foot health protection zone around community gathering spaces such as homes and schools. The bill, Gonzalez said, is an example of legislation the Trump administration is fighting to eradicate. 'We're going to continue to push on this,' she said. 'Multi-state alignment (is necessary) when it comes to energy.' Emily Fischer, a professor at Colorado State University, spoke passionately about her role as an atmospheric scientist, but also as a mother of two children. 'We cannot afford to lose four years of progress,' she said, referring to the Biden administration's climate work between the first and second Trump administrations. 'Regardless of what's happened over the past 95 days, the science is the same,' Fischer said. Hedges said for every attempt at forward progress regarding the solutions to and coverage of the climate crisis, there is backward action. 'For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction,' she said to laughter in the audience. While all four panelists were passionate about the changes made by the current administration in how the climate crisis is addressed and covered, Culver said it is possible for researchers and journalists to 'work with' the Trump administration on climate crisis policy and legislative implementation. Bella Mazzilli is a reporter at State Press Magazine at Arizona State University, and is part of a student newsroom supported by The Arizona Republic. Coverage of the Society of Environmental Journalists conference is supported by Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Arizona Media Association. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: SEJ conference speakers say climate programs will struggle under Trump
