Impactful Climate Investigations: OCRI Graduates are Making A Difference
Since we held the last set of our regional workshops in 2024, OCRI graduates who participated in the story-labs held in Nigeria, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire and Sri Lanka having been busy making a difference in their countries.
Beyond gaining skills to better interrogate the climate crisis and undertaking investigative stories, we have been tracking recorded impact in form of stakeholder response/reaction or action. From facilitating advocacy campaigns to generating parliamentary or legal debates, and from changes in government policy to causing a ripple effect through other news sources; we highlight these four stories out of many by OCRI graduates, that have garnered impact in different forms.
Dengue exploits the weak defenses of governments
By Emilio Godoy, Jonathan Palma, Jorge Rodríguez and Breidy Hernández for Connectas, Viatori (Guatemala), Criterio Periodismo Amplio e Incluyente (Honduras), Inter Press Service, and Poplab (both Mexico). 21 May 2025
This OCRI-supported collaborative cross-border effort highlights how climate change—specifically rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns—has expanded the reach of the Aedes aegypti mosquito into high-altitude regions of Mexico and Guatemala where dengue was previously rare or marginal. It documents 826 “preventable deaths” across Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, noting that budget cuts for vector control and reactive, late responses from authorities have exacerbated the crisis.
The three governments implemented better strategies and intensified measures, as Mexico hasn’t seen a significant change in the evolution of dengue. Its new national strategy cites the Panamerican Health Organization’ guide for fighting dengue. The country’s Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0, the mitigation and adaptation policy, includes a view of climate and health. In addition, media in Honduras and El Salvador published reports on dengue. Other outlets have applied the methodology for covering other illnesses like measles.
The story made the shortlist for the Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa (SIP) 2026 Excellence in Journalism Awards in the Data Journalism category and the 2026 Roche Prize for Health Journalism in the Digital Journalism category.
Avalanche risk for Yarcha collectors
By Basant Pratap Singh for Kantipur National Daily. 21 April 2025
The story focused on the increasing Himalayan avalanches with livelihood pressures of yarsagumba collectors in Bajhang and other high-altitude districts of Nepal using data-driven journalism, investigative reporting techniques, and field-based human-interest storytelling learned during the training. Yarsagumba is a small, fragile, mummified body of the Himalayan bat moth caterpillar that has been invaded by a fungus. It is used throughout the Himalayas as a powerful medicine.
The investigation revealed that recurrent avalanches linked to rising temperatures and early snowmelt are increasingly threatening seasonal yarsagumba collectors, with multiple fatalities recorded in recent years. The story highlighted both human vulnerability and systemic gaps in early warning systems, risk mapping, and safety preparedness.
Following publication, the story contributed to wider public and policy discussion on Himalayan disaster risk management and livelihood safety. Local stakeholders, including researchers and climate experts quoted in the story, reiterated calls for scientific risk mapping and improved early warning systems for high-altitude collectors. The findings were referenced in broader discussions on climate-induced disaster risks in Nepal’s high mountains, though no formal legislative change has yet been directly attributed to the article.
Togo – DR Congo: Between flares and transhumance, mangroves are under pressure
By Pierre-Claver Kuvo (Togo) and Sarah Mangaza (DR Congo) for CENOZO, Togo Reporting Post and ENVIRONEWS DRC. 18 August 2025
The story highlights the alarming pressure on mangroves in Africa, specifically in Togo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In Togo, uncontrolled cattle transhumance and destruction to obtain views of the lagoon are major threats, resulting in the loss of more than 85% of mangroves between 1998 and 2020. In the DRC, oil flaring (by PERENCO and Angolan operators), poaching, logging for charcoal and urbanisation are decimating the Moanda Mangrove Marine Park. These ecosystems are vital for biodiversity, carbon sequestration and local livelihoods, but conservation efforts face challenges in terms of funding, monitoring and non-compliance with regulations.
A September 2026 press release by the DR Congo Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and New Climate Economy announced actions among local populations, particularly those of Lemvo village which is one of the locations covered in the story.
Migrants of the sea, the sun and the rain
By Breidy Hernández (Honduras), Jessica Ávalos (El Salvador) and Shirlie Rodríguez (Guatemala) for Connectas, Criterio.hn, Factum, and eP Investiga. May 5 2025
Residents of small communities in northern Central America are migrating within and outside their countries after losing their homes, businesses, and crops. While the immediate reasons are economic, climate change is the underlying cause, as weather events become increasingly extreme in intensity and frequency.
Specifically, the Honduras part of the story titled Those displaced by coastal erosion highlights state neglect, the lack of land-use planning, and the opaque transparency surrounding a housing project. During this work, the research tools learnt during the workshop proved invaluable, as reporters were able to establish some facts and inconsistencies in the Marcovia municipality’s handling of information.
Following this project, other national and international media outlets began reporting on the topic. The reporter (Breidy) have also been in contact with Amnesty International, who expressed interest in learning about the reality of this area as told by a journalist who was on the ground.