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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Environment
Price of carbon plummets at latest Washington state auction
The price of pollution has plummeted in Washington state’s latest carbon auction.
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Environment
Climate-friendly building code kicks in on Friday
A Thurston County judge’s decision means that a climate-friendly building code takes effect in Washington state on Friday. The state’s new code pushes builders to use electric heat pumps and discourages the burning of fossil fuels.
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Environment
Olympic National Park cabins demolished before they fall into Pacific Ocean
Construction crews started removing seven cabins from a crumbling bluff in the thin strip of Olympic National Park that hugs the Pacific Coast on Monday.
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Environment
Washington holds first carbon auction of 2024, with program's future in doubt
A ballot initiative aiming to stop Washington state from charging for carbon pollution is already reshaping the state’s carbon market.
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Environment
U.S. hydropower drops to 20-year low as Northwest snowpack shrinks
After a week of heavy storms that dumped 5 feet of snow in the Cascades and left skiers giddy, Washington state’s snowpack was still just 73% of normal.
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Environment
Seattle scientist, conservationist Estella Leopold dies at 97
Seattle scientist and conservationist Estella Leopold has died at the age of 97.
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Environment
Pollution is problematic for pollinators — and perhaps your produce
Air pollution is making it hard for some Washington state flowers to get pollinated, according to a new study in the journal Science.
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Environment
How a Northwest tribe is escaping a rising ocean
In a mossy stretch of forest on Washington state’s outer coast, streets and sidewalks have appeared in recent weeks.
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Environment
Quinault Indian Nation hits milestone in effort to move village uphill to safety
In a remote stretch of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, streets and sidewalks have appeared. The Quinault Indian Nation spent a decade trying to move its village of Taholah out of reach of rising seas.
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Environment
Warm-water turtle rescued from Salish Sea after fishermen find her stunned by cold
A loggerhead sea turtle, usually found in warmer waters farther south, was rescued from the Strait of Juan de Fuca.