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Climate Investigations Course: Climate Investigation Fundamentals

This introductory module provides participants with a holistic background about climate change as one of the major issues confronting the world. Participants will access specialist knowledge to better understand the context from a science, policy, and politics perspective.

The module looks at best practice from experienced climate journalists, using successful examples of news reporting that has effectively addressed climate-related problems, and giving guidance and tips on how to approach the subject from an investigative point of view.

Following the module, participants will be well-equipped to begin learning and applying the investigative techniques covered in the following modules in their work to produce the important and impactful reporting that is so critically needed.

 

There is an urgent need for greater public understanding of the looming climate crisis, and journalism has an integral role to play in this.

However, while environmental and climate reporting is crucial, there is an equally critical need for investigative journalism around these topics. While the public needs to know what is happening to our planet, they also need to understand why it is happening.

Why, despite decades of warnings and research into mitigation and solutions, is the situation worsening?

Where are promises and commitments being broken?

What is hindering the process of building new systems to avert the worst of the coming crisis?

And who, ultimately, is profiting from this situation?

This course will help you dig into the people, organisations, governments and companies that can provide you and your audience answers to these questions.

Technical Requirements

This course will need you to have the following software/apps/tools on your computer:

  • Zoom app
  • Camera and audio

This course will be hosted on Zoom. To find out more about how we use Zoom, please check out our Zoom InfoSec page.

Course Structure

Exercises and additional resources will be provided to supplement the training between sessions.

Important

Our training is not recorded: if you miss a session, it is lost – you cannot watch a recording of it, nor will you be allowed to attend that session at a later date.

Ready to dive into the Climate Investigation Fundamentals? Please see the booking form below.

Note that you can get a 20% discount on the total applicable fees by booking the full ‘Climate Investigations Course’ instead here which ‘Climate Investigation Fundamentals’ is a part of.

27 March 2025 – Introduction to Climate Science and International Governance

09:00–11:30
This first session will begin by providing a grounding on the scientific knowledge around climate change, ensuring that you are able to approach the subject from an informed starting point. From there it will also set out the current state of policy structures and intergovernmental debate, and give practical tips and advice for preparations and best practice for reporting on high-level climate negotiation events such as COP, whether in attendance or remotely.

28 March 2025 – Introduction to Climate Reporting and Investigations

09:00–11:30
The second module will give you the conceptual tools to improve the output of your climate investigations and ensure important impactful reporting. It will cover best practice elements of media framing of the climate crisis and introduce key concepts such as climate finance, greenwashing and common myths and misconceptions. The module will examine the differences and crossover between environmental reporting and climate investigations and prepare you to critically analyse reports and briefings. In addition, it will introduce a solutions journalism approach to climate investigations, helping you write about the climate crisis with contextual honesty, while avoiding leaving your audience feeling hopeless and disempowered.

Trainer Biographies:

Lina Yassin

Lina Yassin is a Sudanese climate journalism and development consultant, with experience working on climate change communications and journalism projects across the MENA region. She worked for 5 years as the Operations Manager at Climate Tracker where she implemented a series of journalism fellowships and training on climate change and climate policy across different countries.

Akintunde Babatunde

Akintunde Babatunde is a Programme Manager with extensive experience in international development, public policy, civic technology, climate change, and media innovation. He is the Director of Programs at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and the OCRI regional coordinator for Anglophone Africa.

Booking Form

  • 27 March 2025 09.00–11.30 GMT (UK time)
  • 28 March 2025 09.00–11.30 GMT (UK time)
GMT (UK time)
Location: Zoom meeting
Goldsmiths students (full time)*
£61
Students (full time)*
£72
Freelancers**
£120
Small Media/Education/NonProfit Organisations (<10 staff)
£199
Large Media/Education/NonProfit Organisations (10+ staff)
£295
Other Organisations
£552

One ticket per person.

In line with our non-profit mission, our pricing operates on a sliding scale, ensuring large organisations pay more to subsidise places for smaller newsrooms, freelancers and students.

*Students places for this course are capped, due to limited capacity. Anyone registering as a student will be asked for a photo/scan of their student ID ahead of the course.

**Employed individuals who cannot have their employers pay for the course are entitled to the freelancer rate. Note that we are a small charity and rely on your honesty so please do not register as a freelancer if your employer is reimbursing you for the course.

We have a strict policy of No Refund and No Transfer of bookings.

27 March – 6 June 2025

Climate Investigations Course: All Modules

A comprehensive programme of training, providing all the expertise, skills and tools required to conduct thorough investigative research into the climate crisis. Book here for a 20% discount on all modules.

14–17 April 2025

Climate Investigations Course: Data-Driven Climate Investigations

With so much climate data across many different countries and regions, it's essential to know where to find the relevant information and how to dig deeper when you're in the midst of a big climate project.

12–15 May 2025

Climate Investigations Course: Investigating Climate Finance

Billions are committed every year as part of the global reaction to the climate crisis. Whether invested in renewable energy, traded as carbon credits or assigned to mitigation or loss and damage funds, huge sums are involved.

3–6 June 2025

Climate Investigations Course: ECOSINT

ECOSINT: Environmental and Climate Open-Source Intelligence Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is now a fixture in many newsrooms and can be applied to a wide range of investigative objectives. However, in many ways it is particularly useful when researching climate and environmental stories.