Stephen Leahy

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Biosphere Journalist, Freelance

Ottawa

Canada, Environment, Science, U.S., World

As seen in: LinkedIn, Medium, MSN Canada, MSN Australia, MSN South Africa, MSN UK, The Guardian, Yahoo Canada, Goodreads, National Geographic and

Covers: energy, environmental issues, global development, biodiversity, arctic science, marine science, climate change, sustainable agriculture

Doesn't Cover: sports, entertainment

Biosphere Journalist | SEAL Award for Enviro Journalism; UN Global Prize for Climate Reporting | Need to Know: Science and Insight leahy.substack.com

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Stephen Leahy’s Biography

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I have been an independent environmental journalist for 25 year. My writing has been published in dozens of publications around the world including National Geographic news, Vice Motherboard, New Scientist, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Maclean’s Magazine, Earth Island Journal, The Toronto Star, Wired News as well as publications in Europe and Asia.

Author of Best Science Book of the Year: "Your Water Footprint: The Shocking Facts About How Much Water We Use to Make Everyday" Products http://ow.…

Stephen Leahy’s Journalist Portfolio

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Freezing Your Ass Off Is Also a Symptom of Climate Change

Clearing snow in Norfolk, Massachusetts as a major winter storm hit. Image: EPA/MATT CAMPBELL How cold is it?…

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Electric Cars May Rule the World's Roads by 2040

Electric vehicles will one day push gas- or diesel-powered ones to the curb-but how soon? Sooner than you mig…

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India Launches Massive Push for Clean Power, Lighting, and Cars

India is in the midst of the "largest energy transformation project in the world" organizers of the Vienna En…

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Sneak peak of my new book: Your Water Footprint

Your Water Footprint: The Shocking Facts About How Much Water We Use to Make Everyday Products Do you kno…

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The Keystone XL Will Release More Carbon Pollution Than Greece

An oil sands operation in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Via Kris Krüg/Flickr Building the Keystone XL pipeline will…

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There Are Now 100 People Who Refuse to Eat Until Leaders Take On Climate Change

Image: 350.org "Burning coal is the moral choice, particularly for the poor," Marc Morano, a notorious Americ…

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Articles

Need to Know by Stephen Leahy

May 29, 2026 |

By Stephen Leahy

| Need to Know by Stephen Leahy

Investment in clean energy topped $2.3 trillion last year and outpaced investments in fossil-fuel supply for a second consecutive year. (A trillion anything is hard to get your head around. Try this: A trillion seconds is 31,689 years. (Probably didn’t help.)) Solar and wind have become the default source of new power generation because they are cheaper and faster to build.

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Need to Know by Stephen Leahy

Apr 30, 2026 |

By Stephen Leahy

| Need to Know by Stephen Leahy

We're going to pay an extra +$500 billion for oil and gas this year Solar fencing in Germany Solar, wind, batteries, electric vehicles, and heat pumps offer an affordable escape from the volatile world of fossil energy. Jet fuel prices have increased by 70%, gasoline prices by 30% to 40%, and wholesale gas by at least 60%. Heating oil, which many rural households rely on, has climbed even higher. Need-to-Know: Countries spent at least $1.7 TRILLION importing oil and gas last year.

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Need to Know by Stephen Leahy

Apr 02, 2026 |

By Stephen Leahy

| Need to Know by Stephen Leahy

Replacing 1 in 5 of your car trips with walking, biking, or public transit would save an average of US $1,777 per year, according to RMI’s Smarter Mobility Calculator. The average American household could save $840 in annual fuel and vehicle maintenance costs, and over $900 per year in vehicle depreciation and parking expenses by reducing their car use by 20%. Costs savings vary from state to state These savings are based on 2024 costs. Gasoline prices are about 30% higher today.

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Interview

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Awards

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Prince Albert/UN Correspondents Association

2012 - Global Climate Change Reporting

Co-winner of gold medal for global and UN coverage of the environment – specifically climate change, biodiversity and water.

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Lane Anderson Award

2014 - Best Popular Science Book in Canada

The Lane Anderson Awards for Excellence in Canadian Science Writing - given annually. http://laneandersonaward.ca

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NYC Green Book Festival

2015 - Best Science Book

Best book on scientific topic for popular audience

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SEAL Award for Environmental Journalism

2018 - Reporting on Climate and Environmental Issues for Nat Geo

SEAL award winners are selected by a panel review of each author’s work, peer nominations, and in alignment with timely environmental topics and issues. "We want to reward journalistic excellence and leadership and encourage even more coverage of these topics,” said Matt Harney, Founder, SEAL Awards. Winners have included top journalists from the Guardian, New York Times and Washington Post.

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