John Ryan
Environment Reporter
About
John Ryan joined KUOW as its first full-time investigative reporter in 2009 and became its environment reporter in 2018. He focuses on climate change, energy, and the ecosystems of the Puget Sound region. He has also investigated toxic air pollution, landslides, failed cleanups, and money in politics for KUOW.
Over a quarter century as an environmental journalist, John has covered everything from Arctic drilling to Indonesian reef bombing. He has been a reporter at NPR stations in southeast and southwest Alaska (KTOO-Juneau and KUCB-Unalaska) and at the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.
John’s stories have won multiple national awards for KUOW, including the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi awards for Public Service in Radio Journalism and for Investigative Reporting, national Edward R. Murrow and PMJA/PRNDI awards for coverage of breaking news, and Society of Environmental Journalists awards for in-depth reporting.
John welcomes tips, documents, and feedback. Reach him at jryan@kuow.org or for secure, encrypted communication, he's at heyjohnryan@protonmail.com or 1-401-405-1206 on the Signal messaging app.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, some Spanish, some Indonesian
Professional Affiliations: SAG-AFTRA union member and former shop steward; Society of Environmental Journalists member and mentor
Stories
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Business
Crane collapse likely caused by human error, experts say
At least three sections of the crane plummeted to the ground.
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Environment
Got time? You can avoid 'flygskam' (Swedish for flight shame)
More people are flying each year, making aviation one of the fastest-growing problems for the world’s climate.
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Environment
Coming soon to Washington state: Cleaner power, buildings and appliances
Our electricity in Washington state is pretty clean, but it’s slated to get 100 percent clean in coming years.
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Environment
Thousands of employees urge Amazon to kick its fossil fuel habit
In an exceptionally large show of dissent from within a big tech firm, they’ve signed an open letter to CEO Jeff Bezos.
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Environment
Electric floatplanes could help sink two big pollution problems
The zero-emission planes can't fly far, but they could help sink two big air-pollution problems.
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Environment
Everett commits to 100 percent clean energy by 2045
"I used to believe, up until 2 or 3 years ago, perhaps naively, that this was an issue that we could count on somebody else to solve for us.”
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Environment
More tankers in orca waters as oil exports to China increase
It’s meant a jump in tanker traffic in Washington waters – and more risk of oil spills, though fewer tankers ply our waters now than a decade ago.
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Environment
Tax breaks for green cars: helping the climate or the wealthy?
The tax breaks might make the difference for some electric car buyers.
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Environment
Frustrated by adult apathy, Seattle-area kids join global climate protest
“We are the next generation, and we do care about this, and if you care about us, please help us solve this issue.”
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Environment
Cleaner fuels could soon power Washington cars
Transportation is the biggest climate polluter in Washington and nationwide.