Ella Nilsen - Climate Reporter
Ella Nilsen
Climate Reporter
Ella Nilsen is a CNN reporter covering climate.
Latest
Biden administration announces $4.6B grant program to reduce planet-warming pollution
Sep 20, 2023
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced new competitive grants totaling $4.6 billion that states, cities and tribes can apply for to reduce the planet-warming pollution that is fueling the climate crisis.
Biden administration launches first-of-its-kind American Climate Corps program
Sep 20, 2023
President Joe Biden’s administration is launching the first-ever American Climate Corps Wednesday, the White House said, a workforce training and service initiative aimed at preparing American youth for jobs in clean energy and climate resilience.
Insurance premiums could surge in these American cities because of climate disasters, new data shows
Sep 20, 2023
Millions of American homeowners could see insurance rates surge in the coming years in part due to worsening climate disasters, new data shows.
Number of billion-dollar weather disasters in US blows through annual record with four months left in the year
Sep 11, 2023
It’s been a record-smashing year for the most expensive weather and climate disasters in the United States after severe storms, the deadly Maui wildfire and Hurricane Idalia tipped the scales last month.
World isn’t moving fast enough to cut pollution and keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius, UN scorecard says
Sep 08, 2023
In the eight years since the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, the world’s nations have not done enough to cut pollution and avert catastrophic levels of warming, according to the first United Nations scorecard since Paris, released on Friday.
Biden administration cancels years-long attempt to drill in Alaska National Wildlife Refuge
Sep 06, 2023
The Biden administration announced Wednesday it will cancel seven Trump-era oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and protect more than 13 million acres in the federal National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, stymieing a years-long attempt to drill in the protected region.
After 8 major hurricanes in 6 years, some Gulf Coast communities are hitting a ‘tipping point’
Sep 03, 2023
Hurricane Idalia was the eighth major hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast in the last six years.
EPA slashes federally protected waters by more than half after Supreme Court ruling
Aug 29, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency and US Army on Tuesday released a new rule that slashes federally protected water by more than half, following a Supreme Court decision in May that rolled back protections for US wetlands.
FEMA announces $3 billion for climate resiliency as time runs low for Congress to replenish its disaster fund
Aug 28, 2023
In a record-breaking year of disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is announcing nearly $3 billion Monday for communities to build resiliency against climate change-fueled extreme weather.
As young conservatives try to get climate on the agenda in 2024, denial takes the spotlight instead
Aug 28, 2023
During this week’s Republican primary debate on Fox News, a young voter notably asked about the climate crisis: How would these presidential candidates assuage concerns that the Republican Party “doesn’t care” about the issue?
Feds ease water cuts on Colorado River after blockbuster winter
Aug 18, 2023
Federal officials are easing water restrictions on the Colorado River next year, an incredible improvement after above-average winter snowpack helped shore up plummeting water levels at the nation’s two largest reservoirs.
Feds determine five Chinese solar panel companies have been skirting US tariffs
Aug 18, 2023
After a more than year-long investigation, federal officials have concluded that five Chinese solar panel companies have been skirting US tariff laws by routing their operations through four other Southeast Asian countries.
In a record year of catastrophes, FEMA’s disaster fund is slipping into the red before hurricane season even peaks
Aug 18, 2023
FEMA’s disaster fund is already running out of money in a year that’s setting records for billion-dollar weather disasters.
Harris embraces her climate change portfolio as administration races to sell the Inflation Reduction Act
Aug 16, 2023
Vice President Kamala Harris had some words of advice for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan last year after Congress passed the Biden administration’s sweeping health care, tax, and climate law.
Montana judge hands young plaintiffs significant victory in landmark climate trial
Aug 15, 2023
A Montana judge handed a significant victory on Monday to more than a dozen young plaintiffs in the nation’s first constitutional climate trial, as extreme weather becomes more deadly and scientists warn the climate crisis is eroding our environment and natural resources.
About
Ella covers climate-related policy from the White House, Congress, and agencies.
She joined CNN from Vox where she covered the White House and the Biden administration’s climate and infrastructure plan.
She also covered Congress and the 2018 and 2020 elections. Prior to Vox, she reported on Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump in the 2016 primary at the Concord Monitor.