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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma
@katiesurma.bsky.social
5K followers 150 following 160 posts
Journalist at Inside Climate News covering human rights and the environment, and the rights of nature movement
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Reposted by Katie Surma
mslauramack.bsky.social
Laura MacKenzie @mslauramack.bsky.social · 1d
Essential and inspiring reading for everyone heading to #IUCNCongress where Rights of Nature - including rights of #rivers and #wetlands- will be a hot topic of discussions and motions to be debated & adopted, including Motion 067: iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
insideclimatenews.org
Inside Climate News @insideclimatenews.org · 3d
The rights of nature is one of the fastest-growing movements on the planet. Now, scientists are increasingly signing on, working with Indigenous communities and others to advance laws and philosophies on behalf of the more-than-human world.
The Scientists Making the Case for Nature’s Rights - Inside Climate News
A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next.
insideclimatenews.org
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Reposted by Katie Surma
coveringclimatenow.org
Covering Climate Now @coveringclimatenow.org · 1d
"A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next." @katiesurma.bsky.social reports for @insideclimatenews.org (via @sejorg.bsky.social)
The Scientists Making the Case for Nature’s Rights - Inside Climate News
A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next.
buff.ly
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Reposted by Katie Surma
ejtodaynews.bsky.social
EJ Today News @ejtodaynews.bsky.social · 2d
The Scientists Making the Case for Nature’s Rights

@katiesurma.bsky.social reports for @insideclimatenews.org

insideclimatenews.org/news/0510202...
The Scientists Making the Case for Nature’s Rights - Inside Climate News
A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next.
insideclimatenews.org
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 2d
Full Story:

insideclimatenews.org/news/0510202...
The Scientists Making the Case for Nature’s Rights - Inside Climate News
A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next.
insideclimatenews.org
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 2d
That disconnect is one of the reasons why so many scientists are backing this movement and calling for humans to change their relationship with wetlands:

from treating them as lifeless resources to seeing them for what they are: living, intelligent ecosystems that humans owe responsibilities to.
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 2d
(though some forests are wetlands!)

Despite governments’ vows to protect them, one-fifth of Earth’s wetlands have been destroyed. Of what remains, a quarter are in ecological distress.
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 2d
Gillian Davies and Matthew Simpson, an ecologist/soil scientist and eco-hydrologist (respectively), have been leading a push for wetlands' rights.

Wetlands are an unsung hero of planetary stability, with their moist soils sequestering more carbon dioxide per unit than forests.
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 2d
A new front has emerged in the rights of nature movement: collaborations between Western scientists and Indigenous peoples

This is the first of a few stories I have coming on the topic. It's focused on the scientists who have been flooding into the movement

insideclimatenews.org/news/0510202...
The Scientists Making the Case for Nature’s Rights - Inside Climate News
A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next.
insideclimatenews.org
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 3d
A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next.

insideclimatenews.org/news/0510202...
The Scientists Making the Case for Nature’s Rights - Inside Climate News
A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next.
insideclimatenews.org
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Reposted by Katie Surma
gfc-forest.bsky.social
Global Forest Coalition @gfc-forest.bsky.social · 6d
Indigenous Land Defender Killed in Ecuador as Government Cracks Down on Environmental and Human Rights Activists
Efraín Fueres was gunned down Sunday while marching in protest against high cost of living and government crackdowns insideclimatenews.org/news/2909202... #Ecuador @katiesurma.bsky.social
Indigenous Land Defender Killed in Ecuador as Government Cracks Down on Environmental and Human Rights Activists - Inside Climate News
Efraín Fueres was gunned down Sunday while marching in protest against high costs of living and government crackdowns that include freezing the bank accounts of activists and suspending a media organi...
insideclimatenews.org
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 8d
Our story also covers how Ecuador's President has won approval to ask voters for permission to rewrite the constitution.

Doing so could strip Ecuador's recognition of nature's rights from the constitution, in what would be a significant blow to the worldwide rights of nature movement.
insideclimatenews.org
Inside Climate News @insideclimatenews.org · 8d
Efraín Fueres, an Indigenous land defender, was shot and killed in Ecuador on Sunday while marching in protest of high living costs and government crackdowns on Indigenous and environmental activists.
Indigenous Land Defender Killed in Ecuador as Government Cracks Down on Environmental and Human Rights Activists - Inside Climate News
Efraín Fueres was gunned down Sunday while marching in protest against high costs of living and government crackdowns that include freezing the bank accounts of activists and suspending a media organi...
insideclimatenews.org
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Reposted by Katie Surma
jakebolster.bsky.social
Jake Bolster @jakebolster.bsky.social · 8d
My coverage of today's announcements on coal from the Interior Department, EPA, and DOE is below.

As one source put it: "There is no such thing as clean coal."

insideclimatenews.org/news/2909202...
Citing ‘AI Arms Race,’ Trump Administration Announces Efforts to Rekindle US Coal Industry - Inside Climate News
The administration is opening millions of additional acres of public land to mining while slashing royalty rates and environmental regulations for coal. Environmentalists warn of skyrocketing costs an...
insideclimatenews.org
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 8d
At the same time, Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has won approval to ask voters to re-write the Constitution. If voters agree on Nov. 16, the ensuing process could strip the rights of nature from Ecuador's constitution and rollback other rights.
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 8d
More than 50 environmental defenders and Indigenous rights activists have had their bank accounts frozen and have been notified that the federal prosecutor is investigating them for the alleged crime of “unjustified private enrichment.”
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 8d
Efraín Fueres, an Indigenous land defender, was shot and killed in Ecuador on Sunday while marching in protest of high living costs and government crackdowns on Indigenous and environmental activists. 🧵

insideclimatenews.org/news/2909202...
Indigenous Land Defender Killed in Ecuador as Government Cracks Down on Environmental and Human Rights Activists - Inside Climate News
Efraín Fueres was gunned down Sunday while marching in protest against high costs of living and government crackdowns that include freezing the bank accounts of activists and suspending a media organi...
insideclimatenews.org
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Reposted by Katie Surma
dangearino.bsky.social
Dan Gearino @dangearino.bsky.social · 12d
Electricity prices are rising just about everywhere. I looked at how much rates have changed this year and in the last five years at the state level, based on federal data. Missouri is feeling the most painful sting so far in 2025.
insideclimatenews.org/news/2509202...
Which States Are Getting Hit Hardest by Electricity Price Increases? - Inside Climate News
The pain of rate hikes is not distributed evenly across the U.S.
insideclimatenews.org
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 12d
A pleasure to be part of "The Opponent's Sword and Defenders' Shield: Navigating the 2 Sides of Digital Technology for Climate Advocates" panel today at NYC climate week.

The work of environmental defenders is one of the most important stories on the planet.
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 14d
😂
katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 14d
Best Lead award goes to @dangearino.bsky.social !

insideclimatenews.org/news/2309202...
Trump Takes His ‘Green Energy Scam’ Talk to the UN - Inside Climate News
The U.S. president promoted himself and criticized a wide variety of targets, including renewable energy.
insideclimatenews.org
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Reposted by Katie Surma
insideclimatenews.org
Inside Climate News @insideclimatenews.org · 15d
A toxic mining spill devastated Zambian farmers’ livelihoods, releasing millions of gallons of waste into the environment. The Chinese company responsible told shareholders the spill did not have “a significant impact.”
Chinese Mining Firm Downplays Toxic Waste Spill as Residents Reel From Impacts - Inside Climate News
China Nonferrous Mining told investors its waste pit collapse did not have a “significant impact” on Zambia’s environment or residents. A new lawsuit, however, chronicles illnesses, lost livelihoods a...
insideclimatenews.org
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma @katiesurma.bsky.social · 16d
A new lawsuit alleges a mining firm has threatened poor farmers impacted by a toxic waste spill, with the firm warning locals that their phones are being tapped and the company is using drones to monitor them.

insideclimatenews.org/news/2209202...
Chinese Mining Firm Downplays Toxic Waste Spill as Residents Reel From Impacts - Inside Climate News
China Nonferrous Mining told investors its waste pit collapse did not have a “significant impact” on Zambia’s environment or residents. A new lawsuit, however, chronicles illnesses, lost livelihoods a...
insideclimatenews.org
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Reposted by Katie Surma
lizagross.bsky.social
Liza Gross @lizagross.bsky.social · 18d
New: Pregnant women who lived closest to the #AlisoCanyon disaster during their final trimester were twice as likely to have low birth weight babies, a risk factor for childhood and adult disease, new research found. #Naturalgas is loaded with toxic chemicals insideclimatenews.org/news/2009202...
Toxic Plumes from Aliso Canyon Gas Blowout Harmed Babies, Study Shows - Inside Climate News
Infants born to pregnant women exposed to the massive Southern California gas leak were more likely to be underweight, a risk factor for serious long-term health conditions.
insideclimatenews.org
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Reposted by Katie Surma
anniewaldman.bsky.social
Annie Waldman @anniewaldman.bsky.social · 18d
My colleague @vernalcoleman.bsky.social is a diligent, careful reporter (and a great human!).

He's been doing an excellent job holding the Department of Veterans Affairs to account.

Do you have a tip to share? Reach out to him directly: [email protected] or on Signal at vcoleman91.99
propublica.org
ProPublica @propublica.org · 19d
It's a journalist's job to ask questions of government officials, no matter which party is in power. That often means respectfully knocking on doors to get answers people deserve to know.

Tips and evidence are essential to our nonpartisan work: www.propublica.org/tips/
Screenshot of post on X from VA Secretary Doug Collins. The text reads: @ProPublica is an extreme liberal news outlet that will do anything to make the Trump Administration look bad. But this week, the far-left editors there reached a new low by sending @VernalColeman to stalk @DeptVetAffairs employees at their homes. This creepy behavior will discourage good people from coming to work at VA. @ProPublica, please do better and stop letting your hatred of the Trump Administration continue to warp your judgment.
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Reposted by Katie Surma
insideclimatenews.org
Inside Climate News @insideclimatenews.org · 21d
Since 2012, at least 2,253 environmental defenders have been murdered or disappeared. Far more have been abducted, threatened, harassed and assaulted.
An Average Week in 2024: Three Environmental Defenders Murdered or Disappeared - Inside Climate News
The mining industry is the sector linked to the most attacks against people trying to protect the environment and their homelands.
insideclimatenews.org
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Reposted by Katie Surma
insideclimatenews.org
Inside Climate News @insideclimatenews.org · 20d
Chinese miners are illegally plundering gold from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, causing vast environmental destruction and endangering human health, a new report says.
Chinese Miners Accused of Gold Pillage, Environmental Destruction in DRC - Inside Climate News
A new report says illegal, semi-industrial gold mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is wrecking havoc on Congolese people and the environment.
insideclimatenews.org
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