Climate Change

Beyond the Fires and Floods — Comprehensively Covering Disasters

Reporting on extreme-weather disasters is complicated, challenging work. Besides covering immediate impacts, there’s the broader context to consider, from climate change to social and political dynamics — all while looking out for your personal safety and well-being. Environmental journalist Colleen Hagerty draws on her own and others’ front-line experiences as she shares insights and advice for telling these high-stakes stories.

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Is Disaster Aid Backlog Becoming a (Blue State) Disaster?

A critical logjam is emerging for post-disaster aid to U.S. states, $11 billion or more, according to some calculations. At the same time, FEMA, which dispenses much of it, is in the Trump administration’s crosshairs. TipSheet explores how this looks on the ground and how politics play into the backlog, plus offers 10 story ideas and resources for local reporting.

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"How Ukraine Is Turning to Renewables to Keep Heat and Lights On"

"Russia continues to bomb Ukraine’s fossil-fueled power plants, leaving much of the nation shivering during a brutal winter. But Ukraine’s new emphasis on developing decentralized power — from solar panels to wind turbines — is advancing an unexpected green energy transition."

Source: YaleE360, 02/13/2026

"Trump Guts Basis For Climate Regulation, Setting Up A Courtroom Clash"

"President Donald Trump’s campaign to quash climate change policies notched its biggest win yet Thursday, as EPA eliminated the legal basis for regulations aimed at restricting greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes and smokestacks that are heating the planet."

Source: E&E News, 02/13/2026

"What Are The Biggest Climate Polluters Near You?"

"Many people already understand that climate-warming pollution is rising globally and that it’s caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels and releasing methane gas. But do you know if there are major climate polluters near you?"

Source: Yale Climate Connections, 02/12/2026

Trump EPA Prepares to Kill Key Climate Legal Finding. What Happens Next?

"Following three of the warmest years on record, as scientists reckon with climate tipping points and states and cities grapple with the escalating cost of extreme weather and more intense wildfires, the Trump administration this week is expected to formally eliminate the U.S. government’s role in controlling greenhouse gas pollution."

Source: Inside Climate News, 02/12/2026

"Trump Wants 100% American-Made EV Chargers. Some See Sabotage."

"The requirement would be next to impossible for federally funded charging stations to meet, industry advocates say."

"The Trump administration is proposing to require that federally funded electric vehicle chargers be fully U.S. made — an all-but-impossible target that could kill a multibillion-dollar effort to build a nationwide charging network.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday that raising the threshold to 100 percent domestic manufacturing — up from 55 percent — would advance U.S. manufacturing and improve national security.

Source: E&E News, 02/12/2026

Geopolitical Tensions Cloud Major Climate Threat Of Black Carbon In Arctic

"The increase in marine Arctic traffic, which received increased attention as U.S. President Donald Trump pushed for the United States to take over Greenland, has come with a heavy environmental cost: black carbon, or soot, that spews from ships and makes the ice melt even faster. "

Source: AP, 02/11/2026

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