Journalist and writer Elizabeth Kolbert, recipient of the 4th Biophilia Award for Environmental Communication, reflects on the challenges of the Anthropocene and the role of science communication in understanding the global ecological crisis. Kolbert explains how human influence—from climate change to biodiversity loss—has profoundly transformed natural systems and highlights the urgency of crafting narratives that connect scientific facts with everyday human experiences.
Throughout the conversation, she addresses the importance of communicating complex environmental issues in an accessible yet rigorous way, how reports and testimonies can inspire action, and why journalism committed to nature helps build awareness, mobilize support, and point toward pathways for sustainable solutions.
00:00 Introduction
00:05 How did you first become interested in environmental issues? What led you to start reporting on the impact of humans on the planet?
00:45 Were you always a nature lover since you were young, or did your passion and concern for the environment develop over the years as the situation of the planet deteriorated?
01:29 Tell us about your first book on the environmental crisis, Field Notes from a Catastrophe. What motivated you to write it and what were the key messages you wanted to convey?
02:09 How did the project for The Sixth Extinction come about?
02:59 What are the key lessons you have learned about the global biodiversity crisis? How serious is it, and what can be done to stop it?
03:59 What led you to explore potential technological solutions to climate change in your latest book, Under a White Sky?
04:56 Do you believe that any of the technological solutions explored in this book could truly save us from the threat of climate change, or are they a false and potentially dangerous hope?
06:03 How would you define the importance of environmental journalism in the 21st century? Why is it important for today’s media to promote specialized reporting in this field?
07:32 In your view, what are the key ingredients of the best environmental journalism? What are the most effective strategies to reach a broad audience while maintaining scientific rigor?
08:08 Environmental news is often depressing or even apocalyptic. As a journalist and writer specializing in environmental issues, how do you address the challenge of reporting on these topics without conveying an overly defeatist or hopeless message?
08:58 How can we capture public attention on environmental issues in a media landscape filled with so many other distractions?
09:44 In recent times, some strands of environmental activism have become increasingly extreme, including acts of vandalism in art museums. What is your view on these movements, and how should environmental journalists report on them?
