DEADLINE: EJN Story Grants on Green Recovery From the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has become the most disruptive global health emergency in modern history, with devastating consequences for people across the world. With economies starting to slow due to lockdown measures, governments in many countries have announced stimulus plans worth trillions of dollars to revive economic prospects and boost business and job opportunities. Some economists, government leaders and energy think tanks have called this an opportunity for a "green recovery", a win-win situation which will reinvigorate the economy while working towards a greener, more carbon-neutral future.

The World Economic Forum has documented a collective $14 trillion pledged by the world's 50 largest economies to help their countries recover from the impact of the pandemic. But despite this unprecedented opportunity to curb CO2 emissions and fund equitable and sustainable solutions to the climate crisis, less than one-fifth of committed spending is going towards green initiatives. What could a Covid-19 recovery look like if benefits to both people and planet were prioritized?

With these story grants, Earth Journalism Network (EJN) seeks to increase reporting on this emerging topic in order to improve public understanding of these actions and ensure that governments are held accountable for implementing recovery plans that work towards a sustainable future. This is a critically timed opportunity to shape investment for years to come, and for the public to have a voice in ensuring that their country is rebuilt better than before.

We welcome investigative and/or in-depth stories that engage audiences to better understand the commitments (or lack thereof) from governments, administrations, corporations and other authorities to progress towards a green, sustainable future. We are also seeking story pitches that more generally focus on energy and climate change at the national or international level.

Applications are open to journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with experience in investigative reporting and covering environment and/or issues related to climate. We encourage applications from freelancers and staff from all types of media organizations—international, national, local and community-based. Deadline is Jan 10, 2022, 11:59 PM, (UTC -11).

We are seeking to support both early-career and senior journalists with many years of reporting experience, individuals or groups.

We expect to award 10 grants with the average grant amount being 1,100 GBP (approx $1455 USD). We may consider larger grant amounts for stories using innovative or investigative approaches that may be more costly and time-consuming.

Stories can be produced in any language. However, applicants who intend to write or produce stories in their local language need to also include an English translation.

More information.