Climate Reporting from the Inside

Domestically, the issue of climate change is again heating up, following President Obama’s State of the Union speech, where he surprised many by discussing the issue more openly and at greater length than anticipated.

An “insider’s viewpoint” of the political environment on climate change was presented by veteran Washington Post reporter Juliet Eilperin in January. In an event organized by Cristine Russell, senior fellow with the Environment and Natural Resources Program, Eilperin noted the changing attitude and rhetoric about climate change following Obama’s re-election.

“After a long time, Barack Obama is making news about climate change again,” Eilperin said to the audience of about fifty Kennedy School students and faculty members.

Considered one of the nation’s top environmental reporters, Eilperin has seen many well-intentioned efforts regarding climate become buried under political pressures, media exposure, and more distracting current events.

In her opinion, “Americans will see some, progress on [climate] issues in the next four years. Congressional action is very unlikely, and executive action may instead take place, even by the end of this year.”