Are you the kind of person who rises early and reads the newspaper from front to back while sipping coffee?
Oh meeeeee toooooo!
LOL – just kidding! That is my imaginary self. Real life me is definitely the kind of person who perpetually gets up too late, shoves my headphones in for a couple of news podcasts as I rush out the door, and continuously bookmarks articles all day that I never actually read.
But let’s share the great places that produce these bookmark-worthy articles anyway, shall we? (Ok I was being dramatic; I do occasionally read what I collect over the week 🙂) Here are 9 sites where I visit frequently for environmental news coverage.
Guardian
If you follow any environmental news at all, you’ll notice quickly that no other major news outlets in the world has dedicated as much environmental coverage as the Guardian – which is one of the reasons why I make sure to make a donation every year.
Guardian reporters are on the ground everywhere covering international climate events, and the organization’s got some of the best environmental reporters on staff (Damian Carrington, George Monbiot, Adam Vaughan, Oliver Milman, etc). Despite offering free access, The Guardian has actually recorded a small operating profit last year, which should tell you how much their readers value their work.
Read this: Why we’re rethinking the images we use for our climate journalism
New York Times
Do yourself a favor and go sign up for the NYTimes’ Climate Fwd newsletter right now, ok? It features the latest on climate news, as well as a section titled “one thing you can do”, and I look forward to reading it every week. I love the breadth of context and depth of reporting in their articles, and the Times does a particularly great job covering the energy sector.
Read this: Losing earth: the decade we almost stopped climate change (the NYT magazine dedicated an entire issue to this feature piece, so be prepared for a long but gripping piece of climate history).
Grist
Grist’s About page tells you all you need to know about them: “Founded in 1999, Grist is a beacon in the smog — an independent, irreverent news outlet and network of innovators working toward a planet that doesn’t burn and a future that doesn’t suck.” I enjoy reading everything from their explanatory pieces on Australia’s wildfire to advice on whether you should recycle your old glasses.
Read this: My climate candidate (An interactive guide to where the 2020 presidential candidates stand on climate issues)
CityLab
I love to geek out on urban design, housing/transportation policies, and equity issues, and CityLab’s got all of that covered. A venture of the Atlantic, CityLab is especially known for their smart data visualization. Cities are at the forefront of innovation in response to the climate crisis (and other challenges), and the Atlantic shows foresight to dedicate an entire site to their stories.
Read this: Visualizing the hidden ‘logic’ of cities (an example of the great visual storytelling CityLab does, see below!)
National Geographic
NatGeo is a cultural icon. I’ve read it and worshipped it since I was a kid, and its compelling photography is what made so many of us care about the environment in the first place. NatGeo’s brand has changed a lot over the years, but their impeccable storytelling hasn’t.
Read this: We made plastic. We depend on it. Now we are drowning in it.
Scientific American
Say what you will about Scientific American, I love the way they translate serious science to a general audience. In an era when most people don’t have access to academic journals, and journal articles are written mostly in incomprehensible gobbledygook anyway (I should know, I used to write them), Scientific American does us all a favor by breaking down the complicated science and putting it all in context.
Read this: The American obsession with lawns
RealClimate
While the site design is a bit…stuck in the 90s… shall we say (sorry!), RealClimate is a blog written by real scientists. The Society of Environmental Journalists describes it this way: “It is generally objective, open-minded, evidence-based, and scientifically sound. In a mediasphere where disinformation often dominates, it serves as an antidote to inaccurate and distorted representations of what is actually being learned by legitimate peer-reviewed science. It responds fairly quickly to whatever climate-science misconception is current. Deniers hate it.” Well, that’s how you know it’s good.
Read this: Can planting trees save our climate?
Yale Environment 360
Yale Environment 360 is published by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, although it is editorially independent. It’s not a traditional news outlet per se, but I have read some of the most original reporting, analyses, and opinions here. Some of the pieces can be quite long, but hey – that’s a good thing, when it comes to covering something as complicated as climate change.
Read this: The case against more ethanol: it’s simply bad for environment
Inside Climate
Inside Climate is a non-profit organization and has a uniquely solution-oriented coverage. In their words, the site “covers clean energy, carbon energy, nuclear energy and environmental science—plus the territory in between where law, policy and public opinion are shaped.” The site also offers a number of excellent (and affordable) E-books that can be purchased via Amazon.
Read this: Exxon: the road not taken
Where do you get your environmental news? Let me know in the comments!
Sensible Sustainability 
I get my environmental news from The Guardian, NY Times, ecowatch, but I am also increasingly turning to TED talks for more data, research and discussion.
Oh TED is a great idea! Do you have particular talks that you recommend?
I have a couple of new websites to bookmark from this list, Yue. Thanks!
In love that you provide sample posts from each site! Thanks for this guide 🙂