Floodlight
@floodlightnews.org
Investigating the powers stalling climate action
Few American cities are more vulnerable to sea level rise than New York City.
The coastal community of Edgemere, Queens was among the hardest-hit during Superstorm Sandy. A decade later, residents still wait for promised flood protections.
The coastal community of Edgemere, Queens was among the hardest-hit during Superstorm Sandy. A decade later, residents still wait for promised flood protections.
‘We are forgotten here’: As NYC builds seawalls, this Queens community feels left behind.
A decade after city officials promised to cut flood risks in the Edgemere neighborhood, critics say it remains just as vulnerable.
floodlightnews.org
December 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Few American cities are more vulnerable to sea level rise than New York City.
The coastal community of Edgemere, Queens was among the hardest-hit during Superstorm Sandy. A decade later, residents still wait for promised flood protections.
The coastal community of Edgemere, Queens was among the hardest-hit during Superstorm Sandy. A decade later, residents still wait for promised flood protections.
Cities are getting hotter. And there’s one simple fix on the table: reflective roofs.
So why is a powerful industry fighting to stop them?
So why is a powerful industry fighting to stop them?
This little-known ‘dark roof’ lobby may be making your city hotter
As cities heat up, reflective roofs could lower energy bills and help the climate. But dark roofing manufacturers are waging a quiet campaign to block new rules.
floodlightnews.org
December 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Cities are getting hotter. And there’s one simple fix on the table: reflective roofs.
So why is a powerful industry fighting to stop them?
So why is a powerful industry fighting to stop them?
Years of lobbying by corn and ethanol groups helped shape federal biofuel policy, fueling the expansion of a fertilizer-heavy production system that now drives major nitrous oxide emissions and pollutes rural water.
Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint
Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.
floodlightnews.org
December 23, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Years of lobbying by corn and ethanol groups helped shape federal biofuel policy, fueling the expansion of a fertilizer-heavy production system that now drives major nitrous oxide emissions and pollutes rural water.
We’re joining 5 other Climate News Task Force newsrooms to offer a shared place to sign up for all our newsletters. It’s a new way to make climate coverage easier to find — and to support the reporting that holds powerful industries accountable.
trustfnd.com/collaboratio...
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December 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
We’re joining 5 other Climate News Task Force newsrooms to offer a shared place to sign up for all our newsletters. It’s a new way to make climate coverage easier to find — and to support the reporting that holds powerful industries accountable.
trustfnd.com/collaboratio...
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Louisiana's Isle de Jean Charles, once 22,000 acres, is now just 320. When rising waters consumed their homeland, the island's Indigenous residents moved to a new government-funded settlement. But their “safe” homes already leak, crack, and fail.
As millions face climate relocation, the nation’s first attempt sparks warnings and regret
Three years after a federally funded move, Indigenous residents of Louisiana’s Isle de Jean Charles report broken homes — and promises
floodlightnews.org
December 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Louisiana's Isle de Jean Charles, once 22,000 acres, is now just 320. When rising waters consumed their homeland, the island's Indigenous residents moved to a new government-funded settlement. But their “safe” homes already leak, crack, and fail.
America’s biggest crop didn’t become dominant by accident. 🌽 📈 The rise of corn is rooted in policy choices and industry lobbying, and it helped create a fertilizer-intensive system that is now worsening climate change.
Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint
Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.
floodlightnews.org
December 21, 2025 at 4:14 PM
America’s biggest crop didn’t become dominant by accident. 🌽 📈 The rise of corn is rooted in policy choices and industry lobbying, and it helped create a fertilizer-intensive system that is now worsening climate change.
From ski trails to hiking paths, extreme heat is reshaping how Americans play — and fueling greater concern about climate change than any storm or wildfire.
From ski trails to hiking paths, extreme heat is reshaping recreation — and our attitudes
As rising temps change daily life, they’re fueling greater concern about climate change — more than wildfires or hurricanes, researchers say.
floodlightnews.org
December 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
From ski trails to hiking paths, extreme heat is reshaping how Americans play — and fueling greater concern about climate change than any storm or wildfire.
Taxpayers have covered more than $50 billion in corn insurance premiums. That support helped lock U.S. agriculture into fertilizer-heavy production, with major climate and water impacts.
Read more in our latest investigation:
Read more in our latest investigation:
Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint
Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.
floodlightnews.org
December 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Taxpayers have covered more than $50 billion in corn insurance premiums. That support helped lock U.S. agriculture into fertilizer-heavy production, with major climate and water impacts.
Read more in our latest investigation:
Read more in our latest investigation:
New York City promised to shield Edgemere from future storms after Sandy. More than a decade later, residents say little has changed.
Floodlight went to Queens to hear what it’s like to live with rising seas and broken promises: “We’re the forgotten. We are the forgotten here.”
Floodlight went to Queens to hear what it’s like to live with rising seas and broken promises: “We’re the forgotten. We are the forgotten here.”
Inside New York City's Forgotten Coast
The working class community of Edgemere is among New York City's most flood prone neighborhoods but a decade after officials promised to cut flood risks in the long neglected neighborhood, critics…
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:43 PM
New York City promised to shield Edgemere from future storms after Sandy. More than a decade later, residents say little has changed.
Floodlight went to Queens to hear what it’s like to live with rising seas and broken promises: “We’re the forgotten. We are the forgotten here.”
Floodlight went to Queens to hear what it’s like to live with rising seas and broken promises: “We’re the forgotten. We are the forgotten here.”
New to Floodlight? 👋 We’re an investigative nonprofit newsroom that focuses on climate accountability.Sign up for our twice-monthly newsletter and join a community of readers who want the inside story on who’s stalling climate action:
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Twelve climate newsrooms joined forces in 2025 to create the Climate News Task Force, to increase and improve climate journalism collaborations and innovate new solutions to current challenges.
trustfnd.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:41 PM
New to Floodlight? 👋 We’re an investigative nonprofit newsroom that focuses on climate accountability.Sign up for our twice-monthly newsletter and join a community of readers who want the inside story on who’s stalling climate action:
Joanne Frederick cares for 100 acres of conservation land on her Maryland farm. Now, a proposed transmission line to power AI data centers could cut through it.
“I can't cut a tree down on my own property, right? This power line will destroy five acres of old growth.”
“I can't cut a tree down on my own property, right? This power line will destroy five acres of old growth.”
As AI drives up electricity demand, rural residents get caught in the middle
A proposed transmission line could run through thousands of acres of protected land in Maryland. Locals say they’re being forced to bear the costs of out-of-state tech.
floodlightnews.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Joanne Frederick cares for 100 acres of conservation land on her Maryland farm. Now, a proposed transmission line to power AI data centers could cut through it.
“I can't cut a tree down on my own property, right? This power line will destroy five acres of old growth.”
“I can't cut a tree down on my own property, right? This power line will destroy five acres of old growth.”
Reposted by Floodlight
We’re joining other newsrooms in the Climate News Task Force to offer a shared place to sign up for all our newsletters. It’s a new way to make climate coverage easier to find — and to support the reporting that holds powerful industries accountable.
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Get the Climate News Task Force newsletter bundle
Twelve climate newsrooms joined forces in 2025 to create the Climate News Task Force, to increase and improve climate journalism collaborations and innovate new solutions to current challenges.
buff.ly
December 11, 2025 at 5:45 PM
We’re joining other newsrooms in the Climate News Task Force to offer a shared place to sign up for all our newsletters. It’s a new way to make climate coverage easier to find — and to support the reporting that holds powerful industries accountable.
buff.ly/IrWLrrX
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Owen Henry, a Baltimore homeowner, bought $100 worth of white reflective paint to coat his roof.
The result?
His electricity use dropped 24% — and his home felt noticeably cooler.
The result?
His electricity use dropped 24% — and his home felt noticeably cooler.
This little-known ‘dark roof’ lobby may be making your city hotter
As cities heat up, reflective roofs could lower energy bills and help the climate. But dark roofing manufacturers are waging a quiet campaign to block new rules.
floodlightnews.org
December 18, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Owen Henry, a Baltimore homeowner, bought $100 worth of white reflective paint to coat his roof.
The result?
His electricity use dropped 24% — and his home felt noticeably cooler.
The result?
His electricity use dropped 24% — and his home felt noticeably cooler.
A federal appeals panel has resurrected an investor lawsuit accusing Florida Power & Light of securities fraud, potentially re-opening old wounds from a sprawling series of controversies uncovered by Floodlight and partner newsrooms:
Resurrected lawsuit puts FPL’s past controversies back in the spotlight
The federal appeals court decision could re-open the company's old wounds from a series of controversies across Florida.
floodlightnews.org
December 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
A federal appeals panel has resurrected an investor lawsuit accusing Florida Power & Light of securities fraud, potentially re-opening old wounds from a sprawling series of controversies uncovered by Floodlight and partner newsrooms:
Promoted as a climate fix, a federal mandate to mix ethanol into gasoline is instead driving high emissions:
🌽 Ethanol production drives huge demand for corn
🚜 Corn is grown with heavy fertilizer use
🔥 That fertilizer releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300x stronger than CO₂
🌽 Ethanol production drives huge demand for corn
🚜 Corn is grown with heavy fertilizer use
🔥 That fertilizer releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300x stronger than CO₂
Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint
Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.
floodlightnews.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Promoted as a climate fix, a federal mandate to mix ethanol into gasoline is instead driving high emissions:
🌽 Ethanol production drives huge demand for corn
🚜 Corn is grown with heavy fertilizer use
🔥 That fertilizer releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300x stronger than CO₂
🌽 Ethanol production drives huge demand for corn
🚜 Corn is grown with heavy fertilizer use
🔥 That fertilizer releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300x stronger than CO₂
The Pentagon logged 2,800 heat-related illnesses among troops last year.
Its new policy: stop spending on climate and drop “climate change” from official missions.
Its new policy: stop spending on climate and drop “climate change” from official missions.
Pentagon retreats from climate fight even as heat and storms slam troops
For decades, the military treated climate change as a threat. Now it’s backing away from plans to protect people and bases from extreme weather.
floodlightnews.org
December 17, 2025 at 10:42 PM
The Pentagon logged 2,800 heat-related illnesses among troops last year.
Its new policy: stop spending on climate and drop “climate change” from official missions.
Its new policy: stop spending on climate and drop “climate change” from official missions.
NYC’s largest composting facility on Staten Island has expanded its food waste capacity by nearly 2,000%. But without higher participation citywide, much of New York’s organic waste will still rot where it shouldn’t.
Is New York City getting its composting program right?
Critics argue the city could do more to tackle its food waste problem.
floodlightnews.org
December 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
NYC’s largest composting facility on Staten Island has expanded its food waste capacity by nearly 2,000%. But without higher participation citywide, much of New York’s organic waste will still rot where it shouldn’t.
If you follow Floodlight, you’ll want to hear from our partners too. We’ve teamed up with five other Climate News Task Force newsrooms on a collaborative signup page for our newsletters, putting high-quality climate reporting in one place.
Get the Climate News Task Force newsletter bundle
Twelve climate newsrooms joined forces in 2025 to create the Climate News Task Force, to increase and improve climate journalism collaborations and innovate new solutions to current challenges.
trustfnd.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
If you follow Floodlight, you’ll want to hear from our partners too. We’ve teamed up with five other Climate News Task Force newsrooms on a collaborative signup page for our newsletters, putting high-quality climate reporting in one place.
Years of lobbying by corn and ethanol groups helped shape federal biofuel policy, fueling the expansion of a fertilizer-heavy production system that now drives major nitrous oxide emissions and pollutes rural water.
Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint
Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.
floodlightnews.org
December 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Years of lobbying by corn and ethanol groups helped shape federal biofuel policy, fueling the expansion of a fertilizer-heavy production system that now drives major nitrous oxide emissions and pollutes rural water.
Along the Gulf Coast, shrimpers are losing their catch, wetlands are vanishing, and communities are choking on pollution as Trump’s second term supercharges the LNG boom. “For us, it’s about continuing to exist.”
Trump-fueled LNG boom has fenceline Gulf Coast communities on edge
Residents cite pollution, loss of fishing and diminished tax revenue as liquefied natural gas production accelerates here, feeding demand from Europe and Asia
floodlightnews.org
December 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Along the Gulf Coast, shrimpers are losing their catch, wetlands are vanishing, and communities are choking on pollution as Trump’s second term supercharges the LNG boom. “For us, it’s about continuing to exist.”
Reposted by Floodlight
Agriculture accounts for more than 10% of US greenhouse gas emissions, and corn uses more than two-thirds of all nitrogen fertilizer nationwide making it the leading driver of agricultural nitrous oxide emissions, studies show. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The environmental costs of corn: should the US change how it grows its dominant crop?
Amid concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, the Trump administration has abolished climate-friendly farming incentives
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Agriculture accounts for more than 10% of US greenhouse gas emissions, and corn uses more than two-thirds of all nitrogen fertilizer nationwide making it the leading driver of agricultural nitrous oxide emissions, studies show. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Floodlight
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Twelve climate newsrooms joined forces in 2025 to create the Climate News Task Force, to increase and improve climate journalism collaborations and innovate new solutions to current challenges.
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December 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM
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Sign up for our free climate newsletter bundle with
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Sign up for our free climate newsletter bundle with
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trustfnd.com/collaboratio...
After Hurricane Sandy, NYC began installing major flood protections around Lower Manhattan. But in one Queens neighborhood devastated by the superstorm, residents say little has changed.
“Why is Edgemere different? Because we don't have Wall Street here?”
“Why is Edgemere different? Because we don't have Wall Street here?”
‘We are forgotten here’: As NYC builds seawalls, this Queens community feels left behind.
A decade after city officials promised to cut flood risks in the Edgemere neighborhood, critics say it remains just as vulnerable.
floodlightnews.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
After Hurricane Sandy, NYC began installing major flood protections around Lower Manhattan. But in one Queens neighborhood devastated by the superstorm, residents say little has changed.
“Why is Edgemere different? Because we don't have Wall Street here?”
“Why is Edgemere different? Because we don't have Wall Street here?”
New York City now requires curbside composting — a major step toward cutting food waste and climate pollution. But a closer look at the data raises a key question: Is the program actually working as well as it could?
Is New York City getting its composting program right?
Critics argue the city could do more to tackle its food waste problem.
floodlightnews.org
December 15, 2025 at 10:38 PM
New York City now requires curbside composting — a major step toward cutting food waste and climate pollution. But a closer look at the data raises a key question: Is the program actually working as well as it could?
We’re joining 5 other Climate News Task Force newsrooms to offer a shared place to sign up for all our newsletters. It’s a new way to make climate coverage easier to find — and to support the reporting that holds powerful industries accountable.
December 15, 2025 at 6:36 PM
We’re joining 5 other Climate News Task Force newsrooms to offer a shared place to sign up for all our newsletters. It’s a new way to make climate coverage easier to find — and to support the reporting that holds powerful industries accountable.