Ocean + Climate Workshop Series: Northeastern U.S.

July 7 - 8, 2021

11:00a.m. - 5:30p.m. (eastern)

More than 50 million people live along the highly urbanized corridor that lies roughly between Washington, D.C. and Maine – and within close proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, where warming waters and rising seas are presenting new challenges to municipal leaders, residents, resource users and lawmakers. But while the ocean displays some of the most acute symptoms of human-induced climate change, it also holds the keys to climate mitigation, adaptation, and a sustainable future.

On July 7-8, the Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources held a virtual workshop focused on the ocean and climate in the northeastern United States, designed to help journalists explore ocean issues that are underreported in popular media. Through conversations with a range of experts, this two-day workshop explored regional impacts of climate change on the ocean, the ocean’s potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change, the ocean’s place in human food systems, and the economic, social, scientific, and policy implications of those issues.

Participating journalists had the opportunity to:

• Speak live with researchers aboard the NOAA vessel Okeanos Explorer, as they map the ocean floor to better understand the role the deep sea plays in marine systems.

• Discuss land loss with scientists, municipal leaders and residents, exploring the ways climate change is reshaping U.S. coasts – and the challenges of protecting highly populated shorelines.

• Hear from researchers and policy makers about renewed efforts to let nature, in the form of restored wetlands and marshes, absorb more frequent and powerful storms such as Superstorm Sandy.

• Meet (virtually) with residents and advocates to better understand who wins and who loses when billions of dollars are spent cleaning up after storms and preparing for the next one.

• Hear about the scourge of ocean plastics – a problem made worse by the production and disposal of COVID-related personal protection equipment.

• Learn why the Northeast leads the U.S. in both existing wind power and planned projects – and why not all residents of the region are clamoring for renewable energy.

• Discuss the region’s long history of commercial fishing and learn how things can go wrong – but also explore ways to move forward sustainably in a changing climate.

Participating journalists

itinerary

Session recordings

post-workshop stories

The Ocean + Climate Series is made possible by support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation.

IJNR maintains editorial independence and control in all of its programming and decision-making.