journalism

Our top 5 long reads of 2021

Check out must-read, in-depth reporting from the past year.

In a world of quick clips and soundbites, long-form journalism can be a tough sell. But some stories just deserve the space and attention.


Here are five long reads that rise to that level. Grab a coffee or tea, close your Twitter tab, and support the kind of reporting that can spark change.

1. Fractured: The body burden of living near fracking

fracking children health

In this 4-part investigative series, EHN finds western Pennsylvania families near fracking are exposed to harmful chemicals, and regulations fail to protect communities' mental, physical, and social health.

2. Why Indigenous women are risking arrest to fight Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline through Minnesota

enbridge line 3 indigenous

Enbridge's Line 3 pipeline construction is running into tribal resistance over fears of water pollution, wild rice impacts, climate change, and exploitation of Native women.

3. We’re dumping loads of retardant chemicals to fight wildfires. What does it mean for wildlife?

wildfires climate change

As western wildfires become bigger and more intense, state and federal fire agencies are using more and more aerial fire retardant, prompting concerns over fish kills, aquatic life, and water quality.

4. Pollution’s mental toll: How air, water and climate pollution shape our mental health

environmental justice

A collaboration between Environmental Health News and The Allegheny Front found alarming evidence that residents throughout the western Pennsylvania region are likely suffering changes to their brains due to pollution in the surrounding environment.

Yellow and white wind turbine towers waiting to be installed
Credit: Engineered Solutions/Unsplash

Judge reverses Trump order halting Revolution Wind

Suspending the lease for the Orsted project off Connecticut and Rhode Island was "unreasonable," the federal judge ruled Monday.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaking at CPAC
Credit: Gage Skidmore/https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Trump cuts to energy projects in blue states were unlawful, judge rules

The Energy Department canceled $7.5 billion in Biden-era energy spending, largely in Democratic-led states, during last year’s government shutdown.
Coal fired electricity power plant along a river with a barge.
Photo Credit: Copyright: joshuaacarr/BigStock Photo ID: 82932053

Coal power generation falls in China and India for first time since 1970s

‘Historic’ moment in biggest coal-consuming countries could bring decline in global emissions, analysis says.

Yellow excavator loading rock truck in open pit coal mine
Photo Credit: Copyright: timofeev/BigStock Photo ID:

Coal communities accuse Congress of breaking its promise to clean up abandoned mine lands

The House passed a bill last week that would “repurpose” $500 million meant for cleaning up environmental and safety hazards caused by decades of coal mining.
Smokestacks from a factory spewing smoke and pollution into the air.
Credit: eric1513/Big Stock Photo

U.S. carbon emissions were falling. Why did they go up in 2025?

The rise comes even before the Trump administration’s pro-fossil fuel policies fully take hold, the authors of a Rhodium Group analysis found.
A group of people silhouetted against an orange sun-tinged sky

Europeans’ ‘psychological bias’ to climate change risks slowing down progress, warns study

A new analysis of global research suggests most people believe climate change will affect others more than themselves, a cognitive bias scientists say could slow climate action.

A large drill making a hole in dry earth

Corpus Christi drills wells to prevent looming water crisis

After an industrial building boom on Corpus Christi Bay, the city is drilling wells to meet water demand, and rural Nueces County residents say their own wells are being impacted.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

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