Home / Emanuela Barbiroglio

About me

I am a reporter focused on the environment and EU politics.
I currently work as as a freelancer for (among others) ANSA, Forbes, The Beam, FORESIGHT Climate & Energy and the European Data Journalist Network. Never sleep.

My coverage of COP24 and COP25 appeared in several outlets in both English and Italian. For more than two years I have been writing about climate change, from a variety of angles. Some of the issues I have covered include the science behind air and water pollution, the link between COVID-19 and ecosystem degradation, the European Green Deal, sustainable building renovation and countries' steps towards renewable energy.

As Property Week’s data journalist, I handled market analysis, visualisations and investigations. I produced thoroughly researched articles and infographics on sustainability and environmental issues such as energy regulations, the use of technology across the industry, the risks posed by contamination or floods. My reporting of migration and politics appeared on various outlets, including Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, Euronews, Open Migration and SciDev.Net.

I completed my education across Italy, Germany and the UK. I studied History and Anthropology in Genoa, got my first MA in Political Science after a period spent at Potsdam University, then my second MA in Science Journalism at City University of London.

How the Energy Charter Treaty might hamper emissions reductions

The value of European fossil infrastructure protected by the Energy Charter Treaty is almost €345 billion, says research by Nico Schmidt and Oliver Moldenhauer at Investigate Europe. Lawsuits, allowed by the treaty, are likely to prevent states from adopting ambitious climate policies.

Italy’s dreams of a green hydrogen future rest on its renewables plan

Italy is putting many eggs in the hydrogen basket to decarbonise its heavy industry, including its prized steel sector. Authorities dream of converted hydrogen steel plants and “hydrogen valleys” dotted across the country. But while attention is focussed on whether hydrogen can solve Italy’s problems, other key ingredients to make the hydrogen green are being ignored.

Unhealthy environment, unhealthy Europeans

The state of the environment in Europe is negatively affecting the health and quality of life of its citizens, EEA latest report shows. Data produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that there were 630,000 deaths attributable to the environmental factors in the EU in 2012.

The Beam Magazine • 2nd June 2020

For a bolder climate action: women go to the Antarctic

In her novel Sur, the author Ursula K. Le Guin imagines an expedition to the South Pole by a group of South American women. The subtitle specifies that it’s A Summary Report of the Yelcho Expedition to the Antarctic, 1909–1910, written to be kept in a trunk in the attic and be found by the narrator’s grandchildren - just like an old buccaneer’s diary. Le Guin used her works of speculative fiction to ironically criticise and then undo both misogyny and colonialism.

Nature Started Healing Even Before Lockdowns—But We Can Now See The Results For Ourselves

Pictures of clean Venice canals, dolphins in Cagliari and swans in Milan were all around the internet last week and - many argued - were signs of nature healing itself when people are not around. While air is undoubtedly less polluted because of a drop in greenhouse gases’ emissions, the impact of self-isolation on the environment is less than thought.

Land use puts huge pressure on Earth’s resources. Here’s what needs to change

Deforestation, intensive agriculture and rising urbanisation are all putting intense pressure on the Earth’s natural resources and resilience to climate change. But how exactly does the way we use land need to change if we are to take care of the planet and provide enough food and resources to sustain a growing population?

Emanuela Barbiroglio