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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 14h

Wildlife biologist Corina Newsome joins me on this week's podcast to talk about how birding is beneficial for racial justice and conservation at large.

“ What birds require of us will benefit us in ways that are far beyond bird conservation."

Listen @mongabay.com

Bird-watching for nature connection & social justice

Wildlife biologist and ornithologist Corina Newsome of the U.S. NGO National Wildlife Federation joins Mongabay’s podcast to discuss how bird-watching plays a role in environmental justice for underse...

news.mongabay.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 6d

By now, many of you are aware of the passing of Jane Goodall. Mongabay CEO, Rhett Butler, shares some words and reflections on her legacy.

"She described humanity as standing at the mouth of a dark tunnel with a star shining at the end—hope. To reach it, she said, required collective effort."

Jane Goodall (1934–2025): primatologist, conservationist, and messenger of hope

Jane Goodall, who revealed the intimate lives of chimpanzees and gave the modern world a language of hope, has died at the age of 91. Over the course of six decades, she moved from an unlikely young r...

news.mongabay.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 7d

This week on the podcast for @mongabay.com I speak with @apcwildlife.bsky.social about his journey to wildlife photography, the healing he found behind the lens, and his work with Mongabay as the senior marketing associate.

“This huge hole in my life led me back to nature."

Mongabay staffer shares the joy and impact of wildlife photography

On this episode of Mongabay’s weekly podcast, we look at nature through the lens of wildlife photographer and senior marketing associate at Mongabay, Alejandro Prescott-Cornejo, the multilingual staff...

news.mongabay.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 11d

Natalie Kyriacou has written my personal favorite book of the year, 'Nature's Last Dance,' which connects the dots on what exactly nature is, how we depend on it, and most importantly how we can all save it. This meticulously researched book is full of heart, science, and unflinching honesty. (4/4)

The honesty, humor and wonder of ‘Nature’s Last Dance,’ from Natalie Kyriacou

I recently received an advance copy of Natalie Kyriacou’s widely praised new book, Nature’s Last Dance: Tales of Wonder in an Age of Extinction, and found myself agreeing with its many high-profile fa...

news.mongabay.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 11d

Alan Weisman's 'Hope Dies Last' is not fiction, and that's what makes it so compelling: stories of those, as Weisman puts it, 'not waiting around for miracles but out there trying to make them.' While there are no glimpses of utopia in this volume, there's plenty of real inspiration. (3/4).

In ‘Hope Dies Last,’ author Alan Weisman chronicles the people fighting for the planet

I bought Alan Weisman’s Hope Dies Last in a bookstore despite knowing nothing about it and based purely on the title. Four hundred pages later, I sat down with the author to talk about the miraculous ...

news.mongabay.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 11d

I recommend Kim Stanley Robinson's 'The Ministry for the Future' for the very fact that the novel gives you a cognitive map of what might play out in a scenario where international cooperation takes shape to combat the polycrisis. It's not a perfect vision, but the point is how we get there.

(2/4)

Kim Stanley Robinson on how his novel ‘Ministry for the Future’ holds lessons for the present

Roughly five years since Kim Stanley Robinson’s groundbreaking climate fiction novel, The Ministry for the Future, hit shelves and The New York Times bestseller list, there’s little he says he’d chang...

news.mongabay.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 11d

I've reviewed lot of books for @mongabay.com on our weekly podcast. Here are some brief thoughts on those I've read this year so far, and why I recommend them.

'The Ministry for the Future' - Kim Stanley Robinson
'Hope Dies Last' - Alan Weisman
'Nature's Last Dance' - Natalie Kyriacou.

(1/4)

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 15d

For those who might want to point out that Australia is one of only a few countries surveyed that plans to reduce oil and gas production, yes, that's true. So, why then is coal mining not just on the table, but being ramped up when coal is quite literally the dirtiest form of energy available?

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 16d

Australia is one of the countries in this list that plans to ramp up (not reduce) coal mining.

The Labor party (which partly campaigned on climate action) is the party in power.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 16d

Nations’ plans to ramp up coal, gas and oil extraction ‘will put climate goals beyond reach’

New data shows governments now planning more fossil fuel production in coming decades than they were in 2023 Governments around the world are ramping up coal, gas and oil extraction which will put climate goals beyond reach, new data has shown. Far from reducing reliance on fossil fuels, nations are planning higher levels of fossil fuel production for the coming decades than they did in 2023, the last time comparable data was compiled. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 19d

Great to see our Founder & CEO, @rhettayersbutler.bsky.social at @mongabay.com on the @forbes.com 2025 Sustainability Leaders List:

"After [he] learned that a rainforest he visited with his family in Borneo would be cut down for wood pulp, he was inspired to start [Mongabay]."

Forbes Sustainability Leaders 2025: Sustainability Across Sectors

Forbes Sustainability Leaders List highlights global leaders combating the climate crisis across a range of sectors. See who made the list.

www.forbes.com

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Reposted by Mike DiGirolamo

Earthsight @earthsight.bsky.social · 20d

❓Got questions about the EU Deforestation Regulation❓

Our Policy Lead was part of an informative webinar for journalists - hosted by @mongabay.com - discussing why the #EUDR is important, how it will be enforced and what journalists should consider when covering recent attacks on the law.

Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 22d

Journalists covering the EUDR, I urge you to listen to the webinar we just hosted on how to cover this topic with panelists from @earthsight.bsky.social and @rainforestalliance.bsky.social and @bykarlamendes.bsky.social:

How to Cover the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

YouTube video by Mongabay

www.youtube.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 21d

Canadian mining companies are 'getting away with atrocities' in South America and across the globe, says Brandi Morin. She shares the details with @racheldonald.bsky.social on this episode of the Mongabay Newscast. Listen now @mongabay.com

Canada’s mining companies destroy biodiversity with impunity, Indigenous journalist reports

An international tribunal of environmental rights activists recently found extensive evidence that the Canadian mining sector is “guilty for the violation of Rights of Nature across South America and ...

news.mongabay.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 22d

Journalists covering the EUDR, I urge you to listen to the webinar we just hosted on how to cover this topic with panelists from @earthsight.bsky.social and @rainforestalliance.bsky.social and @bykarlamendes.bsky.social:

How to Cover the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

YouTube video by Mongabay

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Mike DiGirolamo

UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform @unsw-csdr.bsky.social · 27d

Recent #ICJ Advisory Opinion provides certainty on marine boundaries for #SIDS facing #climate impacts and sea level rise

Angelique Pouponneau explains ⬇️

🎙️ Listen now: news.mongabay.com/podcast/2025...

▶️ Read more: www.unsw.edu.au/news/2025/08...

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Reposted by Mike DiGirolamo

Erik Hoffner @erikhoffner.bsky.social · 26d

🏆 Congrats to my colleagues at @mongabaylatam.bsky.social who collected a 1st place Future of Media Award at a London ceremony tonight from @pressgazette.co.uk: pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...

Judges said their investigation is a "powerful use of interactive maps, excellent photography & AI" 🏆 🥂

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 27d

Everything should be okay. I was spared any significant damage to my belongings. Apartment is fine for the most part.

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 27d

How did it get in? Through the doors. It poured upwards from the seam in the doors in the kitchen and my front door.

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 27d

Thanks, Erica. Keeping safe here. The rain should stop within in the hour, and is not as bad as it was last night. That was horrible.

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 27d

Here’s what it looks like when your kitchen or workspace gets impacted by climate inaction.

A flooded dirty kitchen floor, courtesy of climate inaction. Photo by Mike DiGirolamo.

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 27d

At this current moment the rain has returned and so has my anxiety that I will get flooded again. This is really really annoying/scary. Would be super cool to not have to worry about this.

So, yeah. Climate action would be nice.

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 27d

As a nature and climate reporter I am impacted by the topics I report on daily. This is just one example.

I keep my chin up, and continue moving forward. We've cleaned out the apartment and all is well, but hopefully next this happen (and it will) it won't be worse.

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 27d

What can be done about this? Lots.

Phasing out coal, oil, and gas.
Taxing wealth appropriately.
Scrapping perverse tax incentives for property investors.
Caps on wealth.
Investing in forms of energy that do not emit greenhouse gases.
Inheritance taxes.
Broad scale nature protection, regeneration.

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 27d

Had a flash flood last night here in Sydney. My studio apartment was flooded by about 3 inches of water. Flash flooding is becoming more common and intense in Sydney due to climate change. This needs to be reiterated.

And yes we are one of (if not the) most expensive housing markets in the world.

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · 28d

The advisory opinion from the ICJ on states’ obligations regarding climate change was celebrated globally for giving clarity on countries’ legal obligation to prevent climate harm, but was also hailed by island nations for its certainty on their maritime boundaries remaining intact.

My latest:

Top court delivers a ‘huge’ climate win for island nations

The recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on states’ obligations regarding climate change was celebrated globally for providing clarity on countries’ legal obligation t...

news.mongabay.com

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Mike DiGirolamo @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social · Sep 8

One would think…But I’m supposed to be buying less smash avo.

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