Shannon Osaka

Washington, D.C.

Climate zeitgeist reporter

Education: Princeton University, BA in environmental science and environmental studies; University of Oxford, MPhil in geography

Shannon Osaka is a climate reporter covering policy, culture, and science for The Washington Post. She came to The Post after two and a half years at the nonprofit environment journalism outlet Grist, where she analyzed federal climate policy, the energy transition and ideas about climate change. Before becoming a journalist, she received a master’s degree in human geography and published academic papers on climate change perception and modeling.
Latest from Shannon Osaka

Documenting the terrifying fragility of human bodies in a burning world

Jeff Goodell’s "The Heat Will Kill You First" lives up to its alarming title — and shows why we need to adapt.

July 10, 2023

The obsession with EV range is all wrong

Smaller batteries can satisfy well the vast majority of American driving needs. So why do car companies keep making them bigger?

July 7, 2023

In the U.S., the world’s deadliest animal is on the move

Mosquitoes' ranges are spreading in the United States and across the globe as the planet warms, sparking concern that they will exact an even deadlier toll.

July 1, 2023

Cement emits as much CO2 as India. Why is it so hard to fix?

The cement industry is responsible for 8 percent of global carbon emissions — triple the emissions of the aviation industry.

June 27, 2023

Buying renewable energy doesn’t mean what you think

The popular method of buying renewable "credits" for electricity is inflating green power claims.

June 21, 2023

‘The fire equivalent of an ice age’: Humanity enters a new era of fire

Humanity has changed its relationship to fire. We may never be the same.

June 10, 2023

How air conditioners will have to change in the future

Air conditioners are wasting huge amounts of energy pulling water from the air — and warming the planet up even more.

June 9, 2023

World’s ‘carbon budget’ for key climate goal was halved in just three years

New science and three years of continuous emissions have narrowed the chance for 1.5C

June 8, 2023

If you live in California, your power bill will soon depend on your income

A new California law is sparking backlash — with uncertain benefits for clean energy.

June 1, 2023

What France’s new ban on short flights could signal for the future of flying

France's ban on short-haul flights will cut some greenhouse gas emissions. But to really make an impact, it would take a country like the United States to act.

May 25, 2023