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Five-plus
years ago, during the early days of
COVID-19, we sent the first edition of
Boiling Point. I wrote then
that there would “always be people who
say it’s the wrong time to talk about
carbon emissions, or water pollution, or
the extinction crisis.” But even amid a
deadly pandemic and stay-at-home orders,
I argued, it was more important than
ever to keep the climate crisis front
and center.
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The
same is true now — yes, even amid the
Trump administration’s escalating
attacks on democracy and dissent and
immigrants. Which is why, even though
I’m leaving the L.A. Times, Boiling
Point will continue.
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Yes,
you read that correctly. I’ve made the
difficult decision to leave the L.A.
Times. Tuesday was my last day.
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But
I’m not done telling stories about
climate. And neither are my wonderful
friends and colleagues.
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I’m
not quite ready to share my own plans
yet. If you want to keep following my
work, please send me an email at
sammy...@gmail.com, and I promise to
keep you updated. I’m excited for what
comes next.
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It’s
a bittersweet moment, though. Working at
The Times has been one of the great
privileges of my life; thank you for
inviting me into your inboxes, and
making time to read my stories when you
could have been scrolling or streaming.
I’m grateful for our dialogue, our
debates, our disagreements. I hope we’ll
have many more.
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Just
as importantly, I hope you’ll continue
to follow and support the L.A. Times, especially our
environment team.
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With
no disrespect to any other news outlet,
we have the best climate reporters in
the business: Tyrone Beason.
Tony Briscoe.
Noah Haggerty.
Ian James.
Sandra McDonald.
Melody Petersen.
Corinne Purtill.
Susanne Rust.
Lila Seidman.
Hayley Smith.
Rosanna Xia.
If you’re not reading them, you’re doing
it wrong.
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Starting
next week, several of my colleagues will
take turns writing Boiling Point. It’ll
look a little different than it does
now, with a combination of analysis and
news roundup. Each edition will have a
unique focus, based on the reporter’s
expertise: Ian James will cover water,
for instance, while Lila Seidman will
tackle wildlife and Tony Briscoe will
handle air quality. You’ll get a wide
range of thoughtful perspectives.
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The
newsletter will still arrive in your
inbox every Thursday. It’ll still be
worth opening.
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Just
like climate, journalism is more
important now than ever. Local
journalism especially.
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Thank
you for everything. Onward.
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ONE
MORE THING
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On the southern end of Del Mar, train
tracks run precariously close to the
edge of rapidly crumbling cliffs. (John
Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune)
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For
nostalgia’s sake, here are some of my
favorite environmental stories and
series the L.A. Times has produced
during my seven years here — including,
no shame, one of my own:
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A reporter
kept a diary of her plastic use. It
was soul-crushing
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Colorado
River in Crisis: A Times series on
the Southwest’s shrinking water
lifeline
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Keep
up with
California
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Your support helps us deliver the news
that matters
most.
Subscribe to
the Los
Angeles Times.
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Fishing the
L.A. River is more than a quarantine
hobby. For some, it’s therapy
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Is it
ethical to have children in the face
of climate change?
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Repowering
the West: Energy-hungry cities are
reshaping the landscape, again
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The
California coast is disappearing
under the rising sea. Our choices
are grim
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The L.A.
Times investigation into extreme
heat’s deadly toll
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Uncovering
the toxic soil lurking in L.A.’s
burn zones
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This
is the latest edition of Boiling
Point, a newsletter about climate
change and the environment in the
American West. Sign up here
to get it in your inbox.
And listen to our Boiling Point
podcast here.
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For
more climate and environment news,
follow @Sammy_Roth
on X and @sammyroth.bsky.social
on Bluesky.
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