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.
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.
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...
#climate emergency #environmental journalism #rainforest carbon offsets #methane bombs #climate tipping points
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