Alexander C. Kaufman: SEAL Award Winner 2020

A selection of this year’s best environmental journalism

GOP Congressional Wins Dash Hopes For Ambitious Climate Action Next Year

“In what was considered the most important state contest on climate — the race to be the third member of the Texas Railroad Commission, the agency that regulates the oil and gas industry — Jim Wright, a hard-line climate denier whose own company faced fines from the commission, easily beat Chrysta Castañeda, an engineer and energy attorney who had been favored to win.”
Source: Huffpost (Approx. 8 minutes)

At Last, Joe Biden Leaned Into Climate

“Sixty percent of likely voters trusted Biden to handle climate change better than Trump, an August survey the think tank Data for Progress found. That included 42% of Trump-leaning voters, more than on any other issue.”
Source: Huffpost (Approx. 7 minutes)

Democrats Drop Demand To End Fossil Fuel Subsidies From Party Platform

“The amendment was approved. But the statement ― which reflects pledges presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, each made on the campaign trail ― disappeared from the final draft of the party platform circulated Monday.”
Source: Huffpost (Approx. 9 minutes)

The Fed’s Coronavirus Spending On Fossil Fuel Could Dig A $19 Billion Money Pit

“The fossil fuel sector’s credit rating was spiraling downward well before COVID-19. Of that nearly $100 million known to be directed to the industry, $22 million went to prop up bonds with such low credit ratings they are considered non-investment-grade ― “junk” bonds. And fossil fuel bonds, in general, look likely to become riskier in the future.”
Source: Huffpost (Approx. 5 minutes)

South Korea Tackled The Coronavirus. Now It’s Taking On The Climate Crisis.

“When countries across the world are preparing to scale back climate goals in hopes of boosting economic growth, South Korea’s embrace of new climate measures presents a very different route to economic rebuilding post-pandemic. Environmentalists hope it will propel a wider shift in Asia, where increasing coal use threatens to push global warming past the point of no return.”
Source: Huffpost (Approx. 6 minutes)

Read the SEAL Awards 2020 Environmental Journalism Award Announcement