Joan Meiners, PhD
@joanmeiners.bsky.social
🌵 Climate reporter (@azcentral.com = The Arizona Republic)
🐝 Bee doctor (Ecology Ph.D. @UF)
🚴♀️ Outdoor athlete (runner, thruhiker, skier, former bike racer)
Listen. Be human. Fight bullshit.
https://www.azcentral.com/staff/5308605002/joan-meiners/
🐝 Bee doctor (Ecology Ph.D. @UF)
🚴♀️ Outdoor athlete (runner, thruhiker, skier, former bike racer)
Listen. Be human. Fight bullshit.
https://www.azcentral.com/staff/5308605002/joan-meiners/
Pinned
I'm riding my mountain bike on the 850-mile Arizona Trail this fall to see and write about #climate impacts along the way. We're publishing weekly dispatches from the trail in The Arizona Republic | @azcentral.com as I go.
The first one just dropped:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
The first one just dropped:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Imagine being this boring
January 28, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Imagine being this boring
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
On NPR on Friday, there was a story of a 4-year-old--an American citizen--who hasn't left her house since early December, not even to play in the yard. And her 8-year-old brother recently stopped going to school, too. Their father is undocumented, and the family doesn't want to risk him being taken.
January 26, 2026 at 3:47 AM
On NPR on Friday, there was a story of a 4-year-old--an American citizen--who hasn't left her house since early December, not even to play in the yard. And her 8-year-old brother recently stopped going to school, too. Their father is undocumented, and the family doesn't want to risk him being taken.
It feels strange to celebrate a front page these days. But today’s marks the end of our print run of my #ArizonaTrail series in The Arizona Republic | @azcentral.com.
Here’s to still fighting to preserve our humanity + climate through empathy + information sharing.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Here’s to still fighting to preserve our humanity + climate through empathy + information sharing.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
January 25, 2026 at 9:17 PM
It feels strange to celebrate a front page these days. But today’s marks the end of our print run of my #ArizonaTrail series in The Arizona Republic | @azcentral.com.
Here’s to still fighting to preserve our humanity + climate through empathy + information sharing.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Here’s to still fighting to preserve our humanity + climate through empathy + information sharing.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
I am a climate scientist and this is correct.
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
January 24, 2026 at 6:38 PM
I am a climate scientist and this is correct.
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Okay sorry one more shot:
January 23, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Okay sorry one more shot:
Bold to market this months ahead of time. Anything could happen in the next seven weeks, much of which is likely to bring us closer to fascism. Curious how he is going about preparing this talk when every day is something new.
January 23, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Bold to market this months ahead of time. Anything could happen in the next seven weeks, much of which is likely to bring us closer to fascism. Curious how he is going about preparing this talk when every day is something new.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Under the law, ICE is required to provide necessary medical care for the people it detains, often using third-party providers to do so.
ICE, however, has not paid any third-party providers for medical care for detainees since October 3, 2025.
ICE, however, has not paid any third-party providers for medical care for detainees since October 3, 2025.
ICE has stopped paying for detainee medical treatment
Despite ample funding, the agency halted payments in October. They may not resume for several months.
www.motherjones.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Under the law, ICE is required to provide necessary medical care for the people it detains, often using third-party providers to do so.
ICE, however, has not paid any third-party providers for medical care for detainees since October 3, 2025.
ICE, however, has not paid any third-party providers for medical care for detainees since October 3, 2025.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
It's just wild to see in the federal government's own models how close the nation's second largest reservoir is to losing hydropower production, potentially for months on end in early 2027.
Is the plan to just drain Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo to keep it propped up another year?
Is the plan to just drain Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo to keep it propped up another year?
January 16, 2026 at 10:07 PM
It's just wild to see in the federal government's own models how close the nation's second largest reservoir is to losing hydropower production, potentially for months on end in early 2027.
Is the plan to just drain Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo to keep it propped up another year?
Is the plan to just drain Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo to keep it propped up another year?
I grew up near this important and inspirational laboratory. This is deeply, deeply uncool.
Sigh. Shutting down the National Center for Atmospheric Research will make the world a more dangerous place for all of us.
Colorado senators’ bid to save NCAR funding fails as U.S. Senate passes spending bills
“In the face of unrelenting political attacks from President Trump, we are standing together to protect institutions like NCAR that are vital to our state and our economy,” Sen. John Hickenlo…
www.denverpost.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:56 AM
I grew up near this important and inspirational laboratory. This is deeply, deeply uncool.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their favor.
Project 2026: Trump's plan to rig the next election
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their…
www.motherjones.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:00 AM
From nationalizing voter suppression to flooding the streets with federal agents, the president and his allies are using all the tricks in the authoritarian playbook to tilt the midterms in their favor.
NEW: Trump is expected to announce any day now the final repeal of 2009 Endangerment Finding, which granted EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas air pollutants from power plants & vehicles
My sources view the move as anti-health, anti-environment & anti-science
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
My sources view the move as anti-health, anti-environment & anti-science
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Trump set to repeal air pollution limits despite fervent opposition
Experts fear consequences will include health complications, stalled industry, a society further disconnected from science and faster climate impacts.
www.azcentral.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:30 PM
NEW: Trump is expected to announce any day now the final repeal of 2009 Endangerment Finding, which granted EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas air pollutants from power plants & vehicles
My sources view the move as anti-health, anti-environment & anti-science
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
My sources view the move as anti-health, anti-environment & anti-science
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
This is really interesting in light of my interviews with #climate experts in #Arizona who are grappling with this question — while watching the Phoenix Mayor embrace the term and the Arizona Governor avoid it — as I wrote about last year here:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
January 14, 2026 at 5:27 PM
This is really interesting in light of my interviews with #climate experts in #Arizona who are grappling with this question — while watching the Phoenix Mayor embrace the term and the Arizona Governor avoid it — as I wrote about last year here:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
We’ve fought fascism and oligarchy before, and it’s so boring to have to do it again when our primary focus should be on addressing climate change. But the fascists and oligarchs are exacerbating climate change and hindering our efforts to combat it, so fight them we will.
What to know about the world's great climate collapse
"We've gone from over-indexing it to zero-indexing it," S&P Global's Dan Yergin says.
www.axios.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:51 AM
We’ve fought fascism and oligarchy before, and it’s so boring to have to do it again when our primary focus should be on addressing climate change. But the fascists and oligarchs are exacerbating climate change and hindering our efforts to combat it, so fight them we will.
Idk what’s going on at the Guardian science desk but this is FAR FROM the first credible critique of their work and methods I’ve heard, or had myself.
Interesting to see the Guardian's @dpcarrington.bsky.social weighing in on this. My take, as someone covering microplastics heavily for the past year (and currently sitting at a 200+ person conference with many of the scientists in question):
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘A bombshell’: doubt cast on discovery of microplastics throughout human body
Exclusive: Some scientists say many detections are most likely error, with one high-profile study called a ‘joke’
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Idk what’s going on at the Guardian science desk but this is FAR FROM the first credible critique of their work and methods I’ve heard, or had myself.
In 2025, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego @mayorgallego.bsky.social served as chair of @climatemayors.bsky.social, leading on local #climate action during a year of federal backsliding. I spoke with her the day her term ended, right as Trump exited another climate treaty.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
What Phoenix Mayor Gallego learned in a year leading on climate action
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said she was proud of the way U.S. mayors took the lead on climate issues as the White House walked away.
www.azcentral.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:17 PM
In 2025, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego @mayorgallego.bsky.social served as chair of @climatemayors.bsky.social, leading on local #climate action during a year of federal backsliding. I spoke with her the day her term ended, right as Trump exited another climate treaty.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
This funding news is a relief but
WHY IS THE USDA (includes the Forest Service) NOT ON THIS LIST?
WHY IS THE USDA (includes the Forest Service) NOT ON THIS LIST?
January 10, 2026 at 3:58 PM
This funding news is a relief but
WHY IS THE USDA (includes the Forest Service) NOT ON THIS LIST?
WHY IS THE USDA (includes the Forest Service) NOT ON THIS LIST?
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Data centres that briefly wind down during grid stress are shaving a small slice off a net harm, they are not 'supporting the transition'
In the same way CCS *might* slightly reduce emissions, but overall end up facilitating new fossil fuel use....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In the same way CCS *might* slightly reduce emissions, but overall end up facilitating new fossil fuel use....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
January 9, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Data centres that briefly wind down during grid stress are shaving a small slice off a net harm, they are not 'supporting the transition'
In the same way CCS *might* slightly reduce emissions, but overall end up facilitating new fossil fuel use....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In the same way CCS *might* slightly reduce emissions, but overall end up facilitating new fossil fuel use....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
“i want back my rocking chairs, / solipsist sunsets, / & coastal jungle sounds...”
A poem by Renee Nicole Good, who was murdered by ICE earlier today.
lithub.com/renee-nicole...
A poem by Renee Nicole Good, who was murdered by ICE earlier today.
lithub.com/renee-nicole...
Renee Nicole Good, murdered by ICE, was a prize-winning poet. Here’s that poem.
Renee Nicole Good, 37, mother to a six-year-old boy, was murdered earlier today by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, a few blocks from her home. According to the Minnesota Star Tribune: [An ICE agent] s…
lithub.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:54 AM
“i want back my rocking chairs, / solipsist sunsets, / & coastal jungle sounds...”
A poem by Renee Nicole Good, who was murdered by ICE earlier today.
lithub.com/renee-nicole...
A poem by Renee Nicole Good, who was murdered by ICE earlier today.
lithub.com/renee-nicole...
"The landscape has been a meticulous archivist & its stratigraphy reveals a geologic history. Now, however, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is threatened by the Trump administration’s land-management policies."
@goesbykim.bsky.social in @highcountrynews.org:
www.hcn.org/issues/58-1/...
@goesbykim.bsky.social in @highcountrynews.org:
www.hcn.org/issues/58-1/...
An age-old monument faces modern threats - High Country News
Despite the geologic and paleontological significance of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, federal government management is hindering its full research potential.
www.hcn.org
January 7, 2026 at 5:42 PM
"The landscape has been a meticulous archivist & its stratigraphy reveals a geologic history. Now, however, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is threatened by the Trump administration’s land-management policies."
@goesbykim.bsky.social in @highcountrynews.org:
www.hcn.org/issues/58-1/...
@goesbykim.bsky.social in @highcountrynews.org:
www.hcn.org/issues/58-1/...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Never in my life did I think that someday the front page of one of the United States’ largest newspapers (10th-17th, depending on which list you consult) would be all about me riding my bike to report on climate change.
But today, it is.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
But today, it is.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
January 4, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Never in my life did I think that someday the front page of one of the United States’ largest newspapers (10th-17th, depending on which list you consult) would be all about me riding my bike to report on climate change.
But today, it is.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
But today, it is.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Today’s front page of The Arizona Republic | @azcentral.com
(Landing the front page never really gets old…)
Story link: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
(Landing the front page never really gets old…)
Story link: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
January 3, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Today’s front page of The Arizona Republic | @azcentral.com
(Landing the front page never really gets old…)
Story link: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
(Landing the front page never really gets old…)
Story link: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
🚨🚨🚨 The global average temperature in 2025 was the 3rd highest on record. The last three years are in a class by themselves. Instead of focusing on changes in aerosols, volcanic eruptions, or other transient events, focus on the on big thing we have been doing globally for 250 years. 🚨🚨🚨
January 2, 2026 at 4:06 PM
🚨🚨🚨 The global average temperature in 2025 was the 3rd highest on record. The last three years are in a class by themselves. Instead of focusing on changes in aerosols, volcanic eruptions, or other transient events, focus on the on big thing we have been doing globally for 250 years. 🚨🚨🚨
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Of 128 journalists killed globally last year, 56 were Palestinian, the International Federation of Journalists said.
Palestine was the deadliest place to be a journalist in 2025: Media union
Of 128 journalists killed globally last year, 56 were Palestinian, the International Federation of Journalists said.
www.aljazeera.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Of 128 journalists killed globally last year, 56 were Palestinian, the International Federation of Journalists said.