Princeton hosts national environmental reporters, spotlighting net-zero research and campus sustainability plans

In early April, the Society of Environmental Journalists held its annual meeting at the University of Pennsylvania and nearly 1,000 reporters and communications professionals descended on Philadelphia for the four-day conference. It was the first time the conference was held on the East Coast in many years.

On April 4, Princeton University hosted 25 SEJ attendees for a campus tour of Princeton’s geo-exchange facilities, including active well drilling sites at Poe Field and TIGER. Journalists from outlets such as Bloomberg and The Associated Press learned about Princeton’s net-zero campus plans from Director of Energy Plants, Edward (Ted) Borer, PE.

Participants also heard from professor Jesse Jenkins about the United States’ progress toward net-zero and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act. Michelle Ma of Bloomberg News was in attendance and published two stories based on Jenkins’ presentation.

On April 5, three Princeton professors specializing in climate impacts – Gabriele Villarini, Elie Bou-Zeid and Eric Tate – joined 28 reporters to discuss strategies for communities to build resilience against extreme heat and extreme flooding. The dinner allowed for an intimate setting with a nuanced dialogue about the challenges, risks and opportunities for communities and cities to prepare themselves for ever-more-frequent extreme weather events. The conversation was moderated by Texas Tribune climate reporter Emily Foxhall and outlets represented included NBC News, Grist, and The Seattle Times, amongst others.

Both events engaged different parts of the SEJ community and attendees, who hailed from diverse parts of the country, were excited to connect with Princeton researchers on these topics.