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What are the biggest challenges you see with climate change coverage right now?
Young Lutunatabua: A major issue is that while most people understand the climate crisis is happening, they don’t see how climate is connected to the rest of their lives. There are opportunities to put issues like extreme weather and environmental laws in the larger context of climate solutions — like public transit, solar, and rain gardens that impact everyday health and living issues. Some news outlets are working to educate other desks in climate coverage, but we’d like to see this be the rule — not the exception.
Additionally, so many climate journalists are being laid off, and those who are left have so much on their plate. It is because of these factors that climate coverage doesn’t always have the capacity to cover the depth of climate stories and how it connects with communities now. The community-based groups featured in the Storybank are already actively witnessing and building solutions that weave climate with housing access, good jobs, health and safety, as well as other day-to-day priorities.
For example, PUSH Buffalo is ensuring there’s more affordable, energy-efficient housing, while also training local community members to have skills to land high-quality green jobs. … In Chicago, Blacks in Green envisions a Sustainable Square Mile — a walk-to-work, walk-to-shop, walk-to-learn, and walk-to-play village where African Americans own the businesses, own the land, and live the “conservation lifestyle.”
Too often, reporters define experts as only scientists or technologists, which misses the opportunity to understand climate within our everyday realities. The Solutions Project actively connects community leaders with reporters to tell solutions stories that sprout from the ground up and really make a difference in people’s lives.
Can you share some examples of how journalists have worked with The Solutions Project to provide impactful climate coverage?
TYL: There are incredible climate-justice solutions happening all the time and all over the country. However, grassroots groups often don’t have the budget to pay for communications work to tell the stories of their wins. This is where The Solutions Project tries to help build connections.
For example, when Good Morning America was looking for positive solutions around water, we connected them with New Alpha Community Development Corporation, an environmental justice nonprofit in South Carolina that adopted hydro panels — solar technology that converts water vapor in the air into clean drinking water — to provide their community with clean drinking water. … Frontline communities aren’t waiting for someone else to come in and save them — they are solving problems all the time, and it's really inspiring for others to learn about!
We also let the producer know about New Alpha’s ribbon-cutting for the South’s first environmental justice training center. Good Morning America was then able to be there for that exciting moment. Just like our community partnerships, we build relationships with journalists for the long-haul.
What do you see as the top climate solutions stories not being told in traditional journalism?
TYL: As part of telling the full climate story, it's important that we see more stories that are about solutions grounded in communities most affected by extreme weather, polluting industries, and other consequences of the climate crisis. They are closest to the problems and offer the most effective solutions. …
These solutions are popping up across the country, like resilience hubs, which are community spaces for disaster recovery. More cities, counties, and states are experiencing the benefit of working with community partners as they build climate solutions.
Read on to discover more resources for your climate coverage.
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