Global Investigative Journalism Network (https://archive.gijn.org/tag/sea-level-rise/)
That there’s a climate change story on every beat is by now a common observation, but it’s one amply demonstrated by the diversity of stories written about sea level rise. In this section, GIJN will explore the many possibilities for covering this emerging problem.
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The warnings are stark. “It is virtually certain that global mean sea level will continue to rise over the 21st century,” wrote scientists in the August 2021 report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the key UN scientific body focusing on this crisis.
Sea levels are rising because of global warming. The scientific evidence at this point is indisputable, and the consequences are likely severe.
Writing about sea level rise doesn’t necessarily require using historic data or scientific projections, although such information is available for coastal locations worldwide. The practical effects are already visible and affecting people’s lives.
For journalists, explaining the causes and consequences of rising sea levels is a critical and challenging assignment. To address this aspect of the climate crisis, GIJN is publishing an extensive guide to support journalists covering the impact of rising seas around the world.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This guide was written by GIJN’s Resource Center senior advisor, Toby McIntosh. It was edited by Nikolia Apostolou, Laura Dixon, and Reed Richardson, with fact-checking by Miranda Woolen.
What follows is a collection of sea level rise stories representing either unique investigative work or interesting ways of approaching sea level rise stories. This list is categorized by topic, though given the wide-ranging impact of sea level rise, a story about ecological loss often morphs into stories about economics, migration, and other topics.
The dramatic effects of sea level rise can be visualized in a variety of ways. For emotional appeal, digitally modified photos can show how rising water levels might affect treasured monuments and buildings.