The year 2023 will be remembered as a critical year in the escalating extinction, climate and nature emergencies – not least because it looks certain to be the hottest since records began. The Guardian’s global team of environment reporters have covered the key events around the world, around the clock. So far this year, we have published more than 6,000 articles about the environment which have been read more than half a billion times.
Here, we record how key pieces of journalism had real-world impact: changing minds and policies, and keeping the foremost challenge of our times firmly in the public eye. Here are some of the highlights:
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1
Exposing the flawed system of carbon offsets
Our series of exclusive reports on rainforest carbon offsets had a significant impact. The joint investigation by the Guardian, Die Zeit and Source Material built on three years of deep research into the rainforest carbon offsets approved by Verra, the world’s leading certifier. Our reporter familiarised himself with the complex methodologies that underlie the field to the point where he was able, with the support of academics, to develop new analysis, which found that the carbon credits used by big corporations for their climate and biodiversity commitments were deeply flawed. Out in the field, we also uncovered allegations of human rights abuse at one scheme in Peru. The findings of the investigation, which are contested by Verra, sent shock waves through the industry, and the months since publication have seen personnel and regulatory change across the field.
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2
Revealing the methane bombs and leaks that risk triggering climate tipping points
In 2022, the Guardian revealed the “carbon bombs” set to trigger climate breakdown – 195 gigantic oil or gas projects in the planning stages that, if operated, would push the planet past the 1.5C target of the Paris agreement. In 2023, we followed it up with a series of exclusives on the “methane bombs” and super-emitting leaks that risk triggering climate tipping points. We spent months locating the sites spewing this potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. We then investigated Turkmenistan, where methane leaks alone from its two main fossil fuel fields caused more global heating in 2022 than the entire carbon emissions of the UK. Our reporting put pressure on the country to act, and has been cited as a “critical step” in changing the government’s approach – it is now engaging with the US and others to fix the problem. The Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, was given a Covering Climate Now journalist of the year award in recognition of his science-based reporting that “explains that politics and corporate power, not a lack of green technologies, are what block climate progress”.
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3
Tracking the decline in wildlife populations
Our journalism on the nature crisis brings much-needed attention to the worrying state of the health of our planet. A central part of our reporting is to find and highlight the most significant, peer-reviewed scientific studies. This year, that included the key findings from WWF’s Living Planet Report – its most comprehensive research to date examining the trends in global biodiversity. It found that the Earth’s wildlife populations have plunged by an average of 69% in just under 50 years, as humans continue to clear forests, consume beyond the limits of the planet, and pollute on an industrial scale. From the ocean to tropical rainforests, the abundance of birds, fish, insects, amphibians and reptiles is in freefall. This has huge knock-on impacts – from our food supplies to our drinking water, and our enjoyment of leisure and culture – and the Guardian will continue to report on it all. As well as covering the global picture of species loss, we have delved into the complex threats facing individual species. Our podcast investigation Killing the Skydancer explored the murky world of the illegal killing of birds of prey, why the crimes are so hard to solve, and what they reveal about human relationships with the natural world.
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4
Shining a light on the extent of toxic air across Europe
As part of our commitment to covering air pollution, the Guardian’s environment and data teams worked closely together for months to analyse thousands of detailed satellite images and measurements from ground monitoring stations to reveal a dire picture of dirty air across Europe. The investigation exposed that 98% of people in Europe are living in areas with highly damaging fine particulate pollution – more than double the World Health Organization’s guidelines – and that as a result, the continent is facing a “severe public health crisis”. We produced a powerful interactive map allowing readers to search for how clean the air is in their area, and compare it with other regions and countries. The director of the WHO’s department of environment, climate change and health responded to the investigation by saying politicians across Europe have a “clear and absolute moral responsibility” to urgently tackle air pollution.
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5
‘Every trend begins with a one-off’: showcasing the alternatives
It is often difficult to remain optimistic in the face of the climate and nature crisis, but part of our job as reporters is to find the people, communities and governments who are innovating, and seeking to find better, different ways of doing things. We cover the places where nature is recovering, the people and organisations who are conserving and fighting the climate crisis, and the possible answers as they emerge and become clearer. Those stories can offer hope and inspiration – such as the 97-year-old botanist fighting for England’s rarest wild flowers, or the scientists braving landmines to gather data to save one of Europe’s last pristine rivers. As part of our commitment to covering solutions, not just problems, we have launched a new series, The alternatives, which will focus every week on some of the ideas being tried out in different corners of the planet. We have started with a car-free housing development in the US, Dutch toilets heating homes, and how Australia got solar panels on to one in three homes.
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6
Covering vital global biodiversity negotiations
We know international cooperation to protect biodiversity, as well as to limit climate change, is crucial to preserving a livable planet. The Guardian has been dedicated to reporting on the politics of international agreements and negotiations on the nature crisis, just as we cover and hold governments accountable to their commitments on the climate. Our reporters were on the ground to provide comprehensive coverage of the United Nations’ Cop15 biodiversity negotiations at the close of 2022. The negotiations, held in Montreal, culminated in a once-in-a-decade deal between 200 countries to halt the destruction of Earth’s ecosystems, including targets to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030, reform $500bn (£410bn) of environmentally damaging subsidies, and take urgent action on extinction. Our biodiversity correspondents will be there again to bring you in-depth coverage of the next round of negotiations at Cop16 in 2024, and will continue our reporting on how much progress countries have made on their commitments so far.
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7
‘Their work must go on’: the Bruno and Dom project
The first time most of us became aware that our Brazilian-based colleague Dom Phillips had gone missing was when an email went round asking if anyone had heard from him in the past couple of days. Nail-biting weeks followed, until finally, his death, deep in the Amazon rainforest that he loved so much, was confirmed, along with that of his comrade Bruno Pereira. Dom had dedicated himself to writing about the rainforest. Amid the intense sadness, our overriding feeling was a longing to honour Dom and Bruno, and their amazing work, as well as to shine a light into the heart of the forest. A team of colleagues from the environment desk and the international desk collaborated with Forbidden Stories and a number of other organisations on what would become the Bruno and Dom project. A year later, we published multiple investigations into the vast corporations that are industrialising the Amazon, the new roads breaking into its heart, and the link between livestock farming and deforestation, alongside some inspiring possible solutions.
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8
Highlighting the scandalous state of English rivers
In 2019 our reporter Sandra Laville was struck by the declining health of the UK’s rivers and began trying to find out what was going on. Her research would lead her to one of the biggest stories of the last decade: the dumping by the water industry of thousands of tonnes of sewage into the UK’s waterways. In the years since, the Guardian has continued to follow the twists and turns of this scandal. Last year, Laville worked with our data team to reveal that more than 70% of our industry is in the hands of offshore investors, and examined where the money from our bills really goes. Their reporting also examined the case for nationalisation and tracked down global investors to hold them to account for our sewage-riddled waterways. In August, we wrote about the first ever class action legal claim on behalf of 20 million householders in England and Wales, where the public could receive hundreds of millions in compensation from water firms over sewage discharges. Everyone has a right to clean water, and the pressure for this will only grown as the climate and nature crisis intensifies. We are committed to continuing to cover this story.
Read more
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9
Launching a special investigation into the ‘polluter elite’
The Guardian launched a special investigation into carbon inequality – Why is it widening within countries? How is it linked with other systemic injustices? What impact does it have on the climate crisis? For six months, our team of specialist environment and climate justice reporters had an exclusive inside track on research carried out by Oxfam, the Stockholm Environment Institute and other experts. We revealed that the richest 1% of the population produced as much carbon pollution in one year as the 5 billion people who make up the poorest two-thirds, the huge climate impact of the middle classes, and how private jets belonging to 200 celebrities, CEOs, oligarchs and billionaires spent a combined total of 11 years in the air since the start of 2022. The series reached a huge and engaged audience, and drove debates about how to tackle these astounding differences in people’s impact on our planet just weeks before Cop28, which has a big focus on climate justice.
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10
‘A wildlife catastrophe’: investigating how oil and gas extraction endangers crucial habitats
The Guardian has led the way on reporting how the extractive industries, in particular mining, logging, oil and gas exploration, are encroaching on biodiversity hotspots, jeopardising crucial carbon sinks and endangered wildlife habitats. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we investigated the country’s decision to auction oil and gas permits in critically endangered gorilla habitats and the world’s largest tropical peatlands. From Ecuador, we reported on indigenous forest guardians mobilising against illegal mining in the Amazon. In Venezuela, we examined how the twin pressures of the climate crisis and the scramble for minerals are threatening unique species atop the country’s sacred tabletop mountains.
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What you said
Thousands of readers around the world have written messages in support of the Guardian’s climate and nature reporting. Here is a selection:
“I think the paper does all it possibly can to focus and maintain its readers’ attention. The difficulty lies with persuading those who can effect change to do just that. You’ve led by dropping investment in fossil fuels, so are clearly walking the walk. If only others would follow your admirable lead.”
Anon reader
“You are the most informative and trustworthy of all the media outlets, particularly on issues others don’t even acknowledge such as the environment and climate change. You have integrity and independence because you don’t financially answer to any organisations who seek their own agenda through you.”
Caroline, United Kingdom
“I love how you report on the climate emergency. I am scared for my children and grandchildren and thank you for your work.”
Jo, Australia
“Independent news is more important now than ever before. I support the Guardian for two reasons: 1) global environmental coverage. I am a scientist working in the field of water quality, environmental cleanup, and climate change; 2) objective international reporting. Thank you!”
Anon supporter
“100% of the reason: the Guardian doesn’t take ad money from the fossil fuel industry … No one covers environmental issues like you do.”
Elizabeth, US
“I asked myself how to fight the climate crisis, and decided that the Guardian’s reporting was essential for keeping us informed, engaged, and working together.”
Anon supporter
