Katie Surma
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katiesurma.bsky.social
Katie Surma
@katiesurma.bsky.social
5.1K followers 160 following 190 posts
Journalist at Inside Climate News covering human rights and the environment, and the rights of nature movement
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Katie Surma
peteraldhous.com
Election roundup from @mlavelle.bsky.social @insideclimatenews.org
insideclimatenews.org/news/0511202...
Green Groups’ Election Takeaway: Focus on Trump Energy Agenda Costs - Inside Climate News
Voters’ frustration with high power bills helped propel Democrats to victory in New Jersey, Virginia and Georgia. Climate advocates stressed how Trump’s rollbacks of clean energy add to the pain.
insideclimatenews.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:23 AM
katiesurma.bsky.social
NEW from
@insideclimatenews.org and thanks to @peteraldhous.com and @mlavelle.bsky.social

Trump 2.0 Environmental Case Scorecard
An updating tracker of federal lawsuits involving the Trump administration

insideclimatenews.org/news/0411202...
Trump 2.0 Environmental Case Scorecard - Inside Climate News
Tracking federal lawsuits on climate and environmental actions and policies in which the Trump administration is a party.
insideclimatenews.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
projectceti.bsky.social
Thank you @insideclimatenews.org and @katiesurma.bsky.social for diving into our recent publication in partnership with The More-Than-Human Life Program (@nyulaw.bsky.social) by: César Rodríguez Garavito, David Gruber, Ashley Otilia Nemeth and @begus.bsky.social.
November 5, 2025 at 11:26 AM
katiesurma.bsky.social
Thank you @ethanelkind.bsky.social and @kalwradio.bsky.social for having me on today to talk about reporting on the rights of nature movement.

www.kalw.org/show/your-ca...
How the Rights of Nature movement redefines human–nature relations
The Rights of Nature movement works to advance the understanding that ecosystems, wildlife, and the Earth are living beings with inherent rights to exist.
www.kalw.org
November 3, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
ethanelkind.bsky.social
How could the fast-growing "Rights of Nature" movement help empower greater ecosystem protection?

We'll discuss on Your Call's One Planet Series today 10am PT w/ @katiesurma.bsky.social.

Stream live 10am PT @kalwradio.bsky.social!

www.kalw.org/show/your-ca...
How the Rights of Nature movement redefines human–nature relations
The Rights of Nature movement works to advance the understanding that ecosystems, wildlife, and the Earth are living beings with inherent rights to exist.
www.kalw.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
dangearino.bsky.social
Can solar work on the same land as cattle grazing? I got an exclusive look at how @siliconranch.bsky.social intends to make this work:
insideclimatenews.org/news/0211202...
Can Cows and Solar Power Coexist? We’re About to Find Out - Inside Climate News
Solar companies have figured out how to mix sheep grazing and power production. This company is about to make a push to do it with cows, with huge growth potential.
insideclimatenews.org
November 2, 2025 at 3:36 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
As always, a pleasure to join ICN's executive editor Vernon Loeb for our Sunday Morning video series.

We talked about our recent reporting on how scientists are using AI to understand sperm whale communications, potentially advancing the rights of nature.

insideclimatenews.org/news/0211202...
ICN Sunday Morning: What the Whales Are Saying
YouTube video by Inside Climate News
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
En noviembre, los ecuatorianos decidirán si permiten que su presidente reescriba la Constitución, lo que podría socavar las protecciones de los derechos de la naturaleza.

insideclimatenews.org/news/3110202...
Los Ecuatorianos Votarán Sobre la Reforma Constitucional, que Podría Acabar con los Derechos de la Naturaleza - Inside Climate News
Los ecuatorianos acudirán a las urnas el 16 de noviembre para decidir si permiten al presidente de derecha Daniel Noboa reformar la Constitución de 2008. El abogado César Rodríguez-Garavito explica lo...
insideclimatenews.org
October 31, 2025 at 5:14 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
Researchers are using AI to help understand sperm whale communications.

Lawyers think the discoveries could galvanize the world to recognize whales’ legal rights—and advance the global rights of nature movement.
October 29, 2025 at 7:36 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
Researchers are using AI to decode whale communications.

A new paper argues the findings could help make the case for the recognition of whales' legal rights—specifically a right to culture and a right to be free from torture.

insideclimatenews.org/news/2910202...
AI is Decoding Whales’ Language. Could That Be a Turning Point in the Push for Their Rights? - Inside Climate News
The Cetacean Translation Initiative (CETI) is using artificial intelligence to help understand sperm whale communications. Lawyers think the discoveries could galvanize the world to recognize whales’ ...
insideclimatenews.org
October 29, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Katie Surma
cpaullinva.bsky.social
Virginia holds the title of data center capital of the world.

How did that happen?

My colleague @dangearino.bsky.social and I asked the question. Here's some answers.

insideclimatenews.org/news/2610202...
How Did This State Become the Data Center Capital of the World? - Inside Climate News
From America Online to the rise of AI, Virginia has been good for an industry now transforming the economy and grid. Has the industry returned the favor?
insideclimatenews.org
October 27, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by Katie Surma
katiesurma.bsky.social
One of the biggest rights of nature developments this year will happen in November.

That's when Ecuadorians will decide whether to allow their Trump-allied president to rewrite the constitution, potentially gutting the charter's protection for nature's rights

insideclimatenews.org/news/2310202...
Ecuadorians to Vote on Constitutional Rewrite, Possibly Gutting Rights of Nature - Inside Climate News
Ecuadorians will go to the polls on Nov. 16 to decide whether to allow right-wing President Daniel Noboa to rewrite the 2008 constitution. Lawyer César Rodríguez-Garavito explains what that could mean...
insideclimatenews.org
October 24, 2025 at 3:26 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
Thank you to Living on Earth for having me on to talk about our reporting on one of the worst environmental disasters of the year—in February, a copper mine's waste pit burst, spilling more than 1.5 million tons of toxic waste into villages and the Zambian countryside.

www.loe.org/shows/segmen...
Living on Earth: Overseas Chinese Mining and Spills
As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, China has invested over $1 trillion in overseas infrastructure for projects that include mining in developing countries for minerals to fuel the clean energy t...
www.loe.org
October 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
propublica.org
Changes to Oklahoma’s curriculum rules make it so teachers aren’t supposed to tell students that the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 — a defining incident of racial violence in Oklahoma history — was perpetrated by racists.

➡️ Full story: https://propub.li/3WXTkFm
Article excerpt with a section of the second paragraph highlighted: State social studies standards for years have included discussion of how white Tulsans murdered as many as 300 Black people. But once the 2021 state law that restricted teaching about race and gender passed, some teachers avoided the topic. The law prohibits teachers from singling out specific racial groups as responsible for past racism. It specifies that individuals of a certain race shouldn’t be portrayed as inherently racist, “whether consciously or unconsciously.” In addition to teachers’ licensure being on the line, repeated failure to comply would allow the state to revoke district accreditation, which could result in a state takeover. When educators questioned how to teach about a race massacre without running afoul of the law, state legislators and the Tulsa County chapter of the conservative parent group Moms for Liberty weighed in to say that white people today shouldn’t feel shame and that the massacre’s perpetrators shouldn’t be cast as racists. A Moms for Liberty chapter representative did not respond to questions from ProPublica.
October 24, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
leehedgepeth.bsky.social
After Anthony Boyd had struggled for air inside the gas mask for many minutes, his brother broke the silence in the witness room. "It's like he's gasping for air," he said. My full eyewitness account: www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
October 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
One of the biggest rights of nature developments this year will happen in November.

That's when Ecuadorians will decide whether to allow their Trump-allied president to rewrite the constitution, potentially gutting the charter's protection for nature's rights

insideclimatenews.org/news/2310202...
Ecuadorians to Vote on Constitutional Rewrite, Possibly Gutting Rights of Nature - Inside Climate News
Ecuadorians will go to the polls on Nov. 16 to decide whether to allow right-wing President Daniel Noboa to rewrite the 2008 constitution. Lawyer César Rodríguez-Garavito explains what that could mean...
insideclimatenews.org
October 24, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
katiesurma.bsky.social
Ecuador is the only country to constitutionally recognize nature’s rights.

Now, its president, a Trump ally and mining proponent, wants to rewrite the charter. If voters agree, the groundbreaking legal provision could be removed.

insideclimatenews.org/news/2310202...
Ecuadorians to Vote on Constitutional Rewrite, Possibly Gutting Rights of Nature - Inside Climate News
Ecuadorians will go to the polls on Nov. 16 to decide whether to allow right-wing President Daniel Noboa to rewrite the 2008 constitution. Lawyer César Rodríguez-Garavito explains what that could mean...
insideclimatenews.org
October 23, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Katie Surma
marylawlorhrds.bsky.social
The search for justice & accountability goes on 5 years after the killing of woman human rights defender Fikile Ntshangase in #SouthAfrica. I also renew my calls on the South African authorities to respond to my communication on Fikile's case.
www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
The price of speaking the truth and the human cost of justice delayed
Nearly five years after Fikile Ntshangase’s assassination, those who hired her killers remain free. Meanwhile, the wheels of justice grind very slowly.
www.dailymaverick.co.za
October 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
Ecuador is the only country to constitutionally recognize nature’s rights.

Now, its president, a Trump ally and mining proponent, wants to rewrite the charter. If voters agree, the groundbreaking legal provision could be removed.

insideclimatenews.org/news/2310202...
Ecuadorians to Vote on Constitutional Rewrite, Possibly Gutting Rights of Nature - Inside Climate News
Ecuadorians will go to the polls on Nov. 16 to decide whether to allow right-wing President Daniel Noboa to rewrite the 2008 constitution. Lawyer César Rodríguez-Garavito explains what that could mean...
insideclimatenews.org
October 23, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Katie Surma
insideclimatenews.org
The Indigenous Kichwa People of Sarayaku have always known that their forest is a living, intelligent being. Western science is finally starting to catch up.
How a Declaration of Ancestral Wisdom Is Changing Law, Science and Our Understanding of the World - Inside Climate News
José Gualinga discusses his Kichwa People of Sarayaku’s visionary Living Forest Declaration and the importance of collaborating across cultures and areas of expertise.
insideclimatenews.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
insideclimatenews.org
President Donald Trump is using the government shutdown to further slash agencies protecting the environment and public health.
Trump Targets Federal Employees Working on Conservation and Environmental Protection - Inside Climate News
The Trump administration moved Monday to slash federal jobs across two key environmental and conservation agencies, targeting employees who work on scientific research and the enforcement of anti-poll...
insideclimatenews.org
October 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
The Trump administration issued a new round of furlough notices to EPA employees on Monday while the Interior Department disclosed plans to cut 2,050 positions affecting national parks, endangered species and toxic contamination research.

insideclimatenews.org/news/2110202...
Trump Targets Federal Employees Working on Conservation and Environmental Protection - Inside Climate News
The Trump administration moved Monday to slash federal jobs across two key environmental and conservation agencies, targeting employees who work on scientific research and the enforcement of anti-poll...
insideclimatenews.org
October 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
dangearino.bsky.social
This is part of the series Planet China, which is very much worth your time: insideclimatenews.org/project/plan...
@katiesurma.bsky.social @georginagustin.bsky.social @nkus.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
katiesurma.bsky.social
Indonesia is one of the few countries still building new coal power plants, the most polluting sources of power. Chinese companies are playing a large role despite a pledge by Beijing to halt such support.

insideclimatenews.org/news/1910202...
China Helped Indonesia Build One of the World’s Biggest, Youngest Coal Fleets. It’s Still Growing. - Inside Climate News
Indonesia is one of the few countries still building new coal power plants, the most polluting sources of power. Chinese companies are playing a large role despite a pledge by Beijing to halt such sup...
insideclimatenews.org
October 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Katie Surma
bberwyn.bsky.social
If we break the biological ocean carbon pumps any further, we're in even bigger trouble than we think ...
Earth’s Oceans Lose Some of Their Luster - Inside Climate News
New research reveals that a key biological carbon pump is weakening, threatening ecosystems and the climate.
insideclimatenews.org
October 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM