Environmental journalism confronts growing challenges as public attention wanes despite clearer climate evidence

Environmental journalism in 2025 faced a troubling contradiction: while scientific evidence about climate change and environmental degradation became more definitive than ever, capturing and maintaining public attention proved increasingly difficult. This paradox defined the landscape for organizations like Mongabay, which continued their crucial work amid shrinking government commitments, reduced funding for environmental programs, and corporate messaging that became more polished while actual obligations diminished.

The year brought significant personal losses to the environmental journalism community. Mongabay mourned the deaths of Ochieng Ogodo, their East Africa editor, and renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, a longtime Advisory Council member whose groundbreaking research transformed global understanding of animal behavior and conservation. Their passing highlighted a broader year of losses among environmental defenders and conservation practitioners worldwide, prompting Mongabay to honor these individuals through extensive tributes aimed at preserving and extending their work.

Despite these challenges, Mongabay expanded its global reach significantly in 2025, publishing more than 7,300 stories across eight languages, including two new additions: Swahili and Bengali. The organization expects to exceed 110 million unique website visitors this year, reflecting the critical importance of getting environmental information into the hands of those who can act on it. As public fatigue grows from climate anxiety, political polarization, and declining trust in information sources, Mongabay has increasingly emphasized solutions reporting—showcasing where progress remains possible even when the odds appear overwhelming, and ensuring that critical environmental decisions aren’t made in the shadows without proper scrutiny.