CBS News and Stations’ Post

Planet Detroit has received a $500,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation to enhance its climate journalism efforts. This grant is part of a broader $6 million investment by the MacArthur Foundation to support independent newsrooms and organizations focused on climate and environmental reporting. ⭐ The funding will support Planet Detroit's mission to report on the complexities of climate change from a local perspective, focusing on its impact on Detroit and Michigan communities. ⭐ This grant underscores the importance of local communities leading climate resilience efforts in the face of federal withdrawal from climate commitments. ⭐ Planet Detroit aims to deepen community engagement and highlight innovative, community-led solutions to environmental challenges. ⭐ This grant is a significant step towards strengthening climate journalism and amplifying the voices of those most impacted by climate change. https://buff.ly/4gyUyP7

Planet Detroit has received a $500,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation to enhance its climate journalism efforts. This grant is part of a broader $6 million investment by the MacArthur Foundation to support independent newsrooms and organizations focused on climate and environmental reporting. ⭐ The funding will support Planet Detroit's mission to report on the complexities of climate change from a local perspective, focusing on its impact on Detroit and Michigan communities. ⭐ This grant underscores the importance of local communities leading climate resilience efforts in the face of federal withdrawal from climate commitments. ⭐ Planet Detroit aims to deepen community engagement and highlight innovative, community-led solutions to environmental challenges. ⭐ This grant is a significant step towards strengthening climate journalism and amplifying the voices of those most impacted by climate change. https://buff.ly/4gyUyP7

Nature Positive or Nature Toxic Positivity? I fear what is described in Amy Westervelt's excellent article, summarising New York Climate Week, will be repeated in next week's Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney. From the article: ...there were the expected corporate greenwashing showcases, but even the more legit climate events left me with the same feeling I've been having at most climate conferences in the past year or two, an unsettling disconnect between people noshing on passed hors d'oeuvres and sipping craft cocktails while talking about the need to "stay positive!" "tell the positive stories!" "give people hope!"... ....Don't get me wrong, there are good news stories and I know how important it is to share and savor them, but the focus on positivity to the exclusion of anything else felt completely surreal and, if I'm being honest, a little scary....seeing so many climate leaders demand positivity, and only positivity, was more than a little unnerving.....Over and over again I heard people emphasize how important it was to tell positive stories; one colleague described it as, "a zombie-like repetition of 'we have to stay positive!'"... ....This insistence that everything is normal and fine when it is so clearly not is something of a hallmark of the climate movement in my experience, particularly amongst those with power and money. People need good news and hope, but does toxic positivity and censorship of criticism accomplish that?...I heard a UN official talk about how the only thing that will motivate people is positive stories...while also stressing the importance of tackling disinformation.... ... I often feel in these spaces like I shouldn't share bad news or point out wrongdoing, and especially like I shouldn't temper some of the enthusiasm around incremental improvements by pointing out their downsides.... ...we need both good news and realism; we need to hear about all the available solutions and we need to make sure none of them are bullshit, because we do not have time to waste... ...And here's a truth, too: When funders shift their attention from one thing to another, the whole movement's focus shifts there too, as does the media's, in a way that seems not just unhelpful but also dangerous. It makes it tough to accomplish anything [let alone make] big systemic change. --- Next week's Global Nature Positive Summit appears to have all the same type of speakers Amy mentions participated in NY Climate Week, "rooms teeming with white Global Northerners[/Westerners]: https://lnkd.in/g_aeDNze Given the nature of the talks and speakers we can expect the same level of toxic positivity around biodiversity loss. Despite years of talks and agreed international targets, just like with climate change, no real solutions have been allowed to be even discussed. Curbing consumption is not an allowed topic, either for biodiversity loss or for climate change.

In our quest for a sustainable future, it’s crucial to stay informed. Renowned sources like The Times and The Guardian provide brilliant environmental reporting, but don’t overlook local gems. Organizations like Canary Media, Inside Climate News, Grist, and Orion offer insights that can ignite action at every level. Let’s support diverse voices in environmental journalism to deepen our understanding and inspire systemic change. Together, we can drive a sustainable narrative. https://lnkd.in/ggQvEca4

Continuing to look back at some of our favourite projects from 2024 👀🎬 Next up on our journey through some of 2024's stand-out projects is our coverage of The State of Climate Politics Forum, commissioned by climate think-tank E3G, as part of London Climate Action Week this summer. The event was a fantastic gathering of some of the most influential figures in policy making, including the UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, alongside a range of climate leaders and organisations. It's an event that really aligns with our goal at Velvet Green, to use media as a tool to amplify key sustainability narratives. #climatestorytelling #sustainablevideo #climatechange #climatepolicy

The climate beat is evolving faster than ever and understanding the shift in #climate journalism is essential for PR pros. FINN Senior Partner Brianne Chai-Onn discussed the downsizing of newsrooms and how these changes are beginning to impact other industries with PRWeek. Learn more 👉https://lnkd.in/ecgAN7EA #Purpose #SocialImpact

We love a good #CircularEconomy post, so the recent report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (link in the comments) on the potential benefits gained from adopting six circular strategies feels particularly welcome. Boosting economic activity, enhancing climate resilience, and radically reducing sprawling new development in favour of greener building and retrofit? Sounds like a win-win in my book.

Hear Will Hackman in conversation with our director of communications Ross Findon🦑 and Nicole Kennan at this Terra.do event on Monday, May 6th. They'll be diving into insights from our white paper #ANewErainClimateCommunications and examining how we accelerate climate action through the power of communication. 💡 Register below #climatecommunications #climateaction #communications #storytelling #climatecreative

We have big news! We have a new name: Climate and Community Institute. Our name change reflects the fact that we are here to stay. Today we’re also launching our new website to better showcase and mobilize the cutting-edge research and advocacy we do. climateandcommunity.org In 2019, a group of researchers inspired by the Green New Deal came together to talk about climate futures. When the pandemic hit, they sprung into action, organizing campaigns around a Green Stimulus to Rebuild the Economy and other efforts to make climate advocacy infrastructure a reality. Since its earliest stages, our organization has been led by the desire to bring together movement demands and visionary climate agendas. As we have grown over the past five years—adding our Executive Director Johanna Bozuwa, our core staff, and more academic fellows each year, we have continued to realize our goals of working with movements and progressive policy makers to pass new policy, effectively implement legislation, shift narratives, and deepen coalitions. With our change from a Project to an Institute, we want to let you know we are in it for the long haul. We are ready to continue fighting for a transformational agenda that will rapidly and equitably decarbonize the economy by focusing on material benefits for working people. 

In our January Book of The Month, "Climate Change from the Streets", author Michael Méndez eloquently argues that the fight for environmental protection and public health are inseparable, and that genuine change can only be achieved by honoring local knowledge, culture, and history. A vital read for anyone seeking to explore the intersections of justice, environmentalism, and the untold stories that shape our world, this powerful book not only chronicles the pivotal milestones of the climate justice movement but also enriches our understanding of climate change by embedding it within the often-overlooked cultural, historical, and political contexts that influence its course. Ready to be inspired by the power of community and collaboration? Add "Climate Change from the Streets" to your 2025 reading list and join us in championing local voices for global impact! #ClimateJustice #EnvironmentalJustice #LatinxVoices #BookRecommendation #TheSolutionsProject