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

For truckers driving EVs, there’s no going back

Electric trucks still make up only a tiny fraction of trucks on the road in the United States.

January 18, 2024

Here’s what you’re really swallowing when you drink bottled water

A new study finds that “nanoplastics” in bottled water are even more common than microplastics.

January 9, 2024

Is climate change speeding up? Here’s what the science says.

Some scientists have warned the rate of global warming might soon accelerate. And now, after the hottest year in recorded history, some believe it is already happening.

December 26, 2023

The problem with every country’s promise to phase out fossil fuels

Nobody is really planning for a fossil fuel phaseout.

December 20, 2023

VW spent $2B to build America a charging network. It’s ranked dead last.

After “Dieselgate,” Volkswagen created an EV charging company to make amends. Does it matter that its chargers are faulty?

December 14, 2023

Renewables and EVs are soaring. It’s still not enough.

Even as renewable energy projects and electric vehicles take off, a new analysis by the Global Carbon Project now shows that global greenhouse emissions will grow 1.1 percent this year.

December 4, 2023

The government is giving out money for energy upgrades. What to buy now.

There is still over a month left to get cash back on your 2023 taxes for heat pumps, electric vehicles and more. Here’s how to capitalize on tax credits.

December 1, 2023

After the pandemic, Americans are flying again in force. Here’s why that’s a problem.

Three and a half years after COVID-19 upended air travel, passengers are back in force.

November 23, 2023

Wind and solar energy are booming in surprising places

A new analysis shows that communities that used to be fossil fuel hubs are getting more than their share of clean energy investments under Biden’s initiatives.

November 15, 2023

The Lego-like way to get CO2 out of the atmosphere

A company says it has found a way to remove CO2 from the air for less than $100 per ton.

November 13, 2023