Green Echoes #47: ERC's grant programme, reporting, opportunities and more
Welcome to the July edition of Green Echoes, your monthly newsletter from the Environmental Reporting Collective (ERC). Our mission is to provide you with an all-encompassing update on the latest investigative stories, data sources, reporting and training opportunities, and noteworthy projects related to environmental issues across Asia and beyond.
♻️ Environmental reporting to take note of
We have so much in common with bears. From our mutual ability to switch between playful and fierce, to their iconic presence in myths and universal recognition, bears are a captivating reminder of our own fascinating nature. Veteran environmental journalist Gloria Dickie explores the bears we adore in her new book.
A surprising revelation unfolds as researchers find that over 50% of the world's oceans have turned greener in the last two decades, likely due to global warming. This unexpected discovery, reported in Nature, challenges previous assumptions about the timeframe needed to observe climate change's influence on ocean colour.
Unveiling a troubling reality, Cambodians are risking their lives and freedom to supply garment factories with fuel by exploiting forests. This report sheds light on the dangerous and unsustainable practices that have emerged as a consequence of the demand for wood in Cambodia's booming garment industry.
Greenpeace raises a critical concern over deep-sea mining and urges action to halt this destructive practice to prevent irreversible damage to fragile marine ecosystems through the exploitation of deep-sea minerals
Explore Israel’s approach to tackling water scarcity and its efforts to address other pressing environmental challenges. Their innovative technologies are reshaping water management and fostering sustainability in the face of environmental adversity.
From the ERC community
Muhammad Daud Khan dives into the tale of the deteriorating Upper Swat Canal in Pakistan where memories of pristine waters clash with the harsh reality of pollution. Explore the urgent need for water management and environmental responsibility
On a positive note
The discovery of valuable ore in Scandinavia looks to relieve shortages of phosphorus for decades to come. Huge phosphate deposits discovered in southwestern Norway could be large enough to supply electric vehicles, solar panels and fertiliser for at least 50 years.
Amazon deforestation drops 34% in the first six months under Lula. Government data shows a marked reduction against the same period last year, reversing the trend of destruction during Bolsonaro's reign.
🎙️ Podcast: In collaboration with the China Environment Forum at the Wilson Center and Ohio State University, this thought-provoking podcast series offers insights on global greenhouse gas emissions from food systems; over half of which come from the US and China.
The essay series features advice from alumni of our Oxford Climate Journalism Network on how to improve climate journalism, from side-stepping polarisation to connecting heritage and climate, to building collaborative networks when newsroom resources are scarce.
🚀 ERC’s Collaborative Reporting Grants
The ERC Collaborative Reporting Grants 2023 is now open for application. Designed to support journalists working together on tracing environmental crimes across borders, we seek to support teams to bring out the most pressing environmental issues of our times.
In 2022, ERC supported nine teams of reporters working from more than a dozen countries to uncover environmental issues across the globe. In the latest round, ERC seeks to support similar stories as well as reports specific to sand mining as a follow-up to Beneath the Sands.
The grants are aimed at promoting collaborations to allow journalists from different countries to fill in gaps in each others’ reporting. Applications must include at least two journalists or news outlets from different countries or regions. Freelance journalists are welcome to apply.
If you’re interested and ready to apply, please prepare the following:
A one-page story proposal with details of your idea and reporting plan. The proposal must emphasize what will be new or revelatory about your story and how each reporter will contribute to the story.
A budget that lays out the anticipated expenses for the project. This may include fees for records requests, travel and lodging, and a stipend for freelance reporters. Please download and use ERC’s budget template here.
Resumes for each journalist with links to previously published reports and at least two professional references.
For media outlets, data about your reach, audience, and links to previous investigations. Note: News outlets are strongly encouraged to sign up as a partner newsroom with ERC before or when applying, but it's not required and will not jeopardize their application.
For staff writers, a letter of support from an editor in your newsroom.
For freelance journalists, a letter of interest from a news outlet willing or committed to publish your story.
Looking for inspiration? Check out some of our grant-funded stories from the last cohort:
Kenya, Uganda struggling to stop illegal fishing in Lake Victoria
How Unregulated Tourism Means for the Future of the Himalayas
Kashmir: How Glacier Melt Is Triggering a Change in Land Use Patterns
European green finance is paying for deforestation in Indonesia: the case of Michelin
The deadline for applications for Collaborative Reporting Grants is August 15, 2023. You may contact Karol Ilagan at contact@investigative.earth for additional questions.
We will also be hosting a Slack AMA and a Zoom session to answer all your questions about the Grants Programme. Stay in the loop and join the ERC Slack community to connect with the ERC team and also meet and engage with fellow journalists and find journalists to collaborate with
Opportunities
The Thomson Foundation has announced the opening of the Young Journalist Award 2023, as highlighted in their latest article. Don't miss the opportunity to showcase your talent and compete for this prestigious award, which recognizes excellence in journalism. Apply here
Are you a writer seeking a unique residency opportunity? The Jan Michalski Foundation is now accepting applications for their writing residencies with a special focus on writing about ‘nature’. Immerse yourself in a serene and inspiring environment while honing your craft. Apply here
India’s Behanbox needs an audience and community manager. Your job is to “find, build and nurture our community who will shape the conversations on gender issues and build a momentum for change”. This role is open to women, non-binary, and trans persons only. Apply here
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