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Climate Disaster Project

@climatedisaster.bsky.social
285 followers 41 following 56 posts

We are an international teaching newsroom that works with climate disaster survivors to share and investigate their stories. Coordinated at the University of Victoria. climatedisasterproject.com

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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
We are proud to announce the Climate Disaster Project and its partners have been awarded a $2.5 million grant to document the stories of climate-impacted people worldwide, creating a museum exhibition that honours their experiences and shares their wisdom. news.uvic.ca/media-releas...
news.uvic.ca
Climate professor receives $2.5 million grant to document stories globally - UVic News
Fires rage, floods devastate, storms surge: every day we hear about the impacts of climate change, with ever-increasing casualty counts and infrastructure
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Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Got to take in performance of Eyes of the Beast, powerful co-creation of New World Theatre & @climatedisaster.bsky.social. Highly recommend. Brings to life oral testimonies of people who lived through BC's heat dome, fires & floods. Last shows today & tomorrow. neworldtheatre.com/projects/eye...
neworldtheatre.com
Eyes of the Beast at SFU - Neworld Theatre
Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Survivor Stories is a verbatim theatre adaptation of the multi-award-winning journalism by the Climate Disaster Project, a teaching newsroom based out of the Univer...
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
"You can’t even take a moment to acknowledge this person passed. I remember seeing a family member just standing in the hallway. And I’m literally running, gunning it across the hall to go to a different room and can’t even talk to them." thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...
thetyee.ca
I Worked the ER During BC’s Worst Heat Wave. One Shift Haunts Me | The Tyee
‘That night could break people,’ recalls a health professional. A first-person account.
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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 16/06/2025
theglobeandmail.com
Documentary play Eyes of the Beast tells the story of B.C.’s 2021 heat dome
The award-winning production by Vancouver’s Neworld Theatre and the University of Victoria’s Climate Disaster Project uses survivors’ stories to explore the effects of climate cha
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Michelle Gamage @michellegamage.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Powerful and important reporting from an ER worker during the 2021 heat dome. Very glad The Tyee ran this, but I feel frustrated and upset that a health care worker would have to be anonymous to be able to share a story like this. HC workers need to be able to speak freely thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...
thetyee.ca
I Worked the ER During BC’s Worst Heat Wave. One Shift Haunts Me | The Tyee
‘That night could break people,’ recalls a health professional. A first-person account.
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The Tyee @thetyee.ca · 16/06/2025
“We have to lose our humanity in order to try to save other people. People were suffering and you can’t hold their hand. I can’t be there in their last moments.”
thetyee.ca
I Worked the ER During BC’s Worst Heat Wave. One Shift Haunts Me | The Tyee
‘That night could break people,’ recalls a health professional. A first-person account.
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Sean Holman @seanholman.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Honoured to be representing the students and survivors of the @climatedisaster.bsky.social, as one of 20 presenters at the Climate Storytellers' Summit. Because we need new forms of journalism to help communities recover from the trauma of a warming world. environment.princeton.edu/climate-stor...
environment.princeton.edu
Climate Storytellers’ Summit - High Meadows Environmental Institute
Time and Location Live via Zoom Thursday, April 10, 2025 4–6PM Eastern Register for our Zoom webinar here! Or attend our watch party.   Event Description Join My Climate Story project, the Yale Progra...
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
We're honoured the @cajournalists.bsky.social has selected Eyes of the Beast, the documentary play the Climate Disaster Project and Neworld Theatre created with survivors of extreme heat, fire, and floods, as a finalist. It's the first time newsroom-theatre partnership has been a CAJ awards nominee.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
"There was a lot to learn about trauma-informed interviewing, but at the core of it, you’re showing up as a person first—empathy forward," recent graduate Sydney Lobe says about her experience as Climate Disaster Project student at @uvic.ca. www.uvic.ca/support-uvic...
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UVic Fine Arts @uvicarts.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Hear @uvic.ca Writing professor & @climatedisaster.bsky.social founding director Sean Holman at the Climate Storytellers’ Summit on Apr 10: chosen from 100 submissions, Holman will be one of 20+ speakers on how climate stories spark change. Register here: environment.princeton.edu/climate-stor...
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
“Seeing her and how that could have happened to anyone, it made me think about people who probably didn't have relatives to go stay with, people who got displaced. These floods lasted quite a while.” - student Shekainah Mendis, 2016 Sri Lanka floods thewrennews.ca/you-think-it...
thewrennews.ca
'You think it wouldn't affect you, but there's a very high possibility it can'
Shekainah Mendis shares her experience of the 2016 Sri Lanka floods with Sylvia Ndirangu.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
“We ended up having a relative move in with us for a while because of how high the water levels were. I could see how difficult that was for her because almost her whole life is in that house, and she had no access to it.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
“Where we were living, the water levels did rise in our street as much as other places. We were continuously checking up on any friends and family that lived in any of the severely affected areas.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
We're honoured to be partnering with @thompsonriversu.bsky.social and journalism professor @jenniferchrumka.bsky.social on this important work, sharing stories from climate-impacted people in Kamloops and around the world. inside.tru.ca/2025/03/25/j...
inside.tru.ca
Journalism students explore personal stories of climate disaster survival – TRU Newsroom
TRU Newsroom
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
“My brother and my mom were packing up our stuff. My dad went out and set up a bunch of sprinklers to make sure everything was wet while they waited for the fire department to show up.” - student Diego Machado, 2021 Juniper Ridge Fire thewrennews.ca/everyone-tho...
thewrennews.ca
'Everyone thought they were going to die and felt like they were stuck'
Diego Machado shares his story of the 2021 Juniper Ridge wildfire with Jenna Spencer.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
“The first thing I did was call my brother to see if they had seen it. He told me that it struck thirty or fourty metres from our backyard, and everything around it caught fire immediately. We live right at the bottom of the neighbourhood, right against a big parkland, which gets quite dry.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
“There was a bit of a gap where there was almost no lightning strikes at all, and then there was one really big one. Something about it clicked within my head. It’s like my intuition knew exactly where that lightning hit.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
“We do have a couple of neighbours that are older and their family lives far away and they're living on their own. I wanted to make sure that if they needed any help with anything, I could be there for them.” - Kamloops resident Remy Machado, 2021 Juniper Ridge fire thewrennews.ca/there-was-no...
thewrennews.ca
'There was no good way to help them and myself at the same time'
Remy Machado shares his experience of the 2021 Juniper Ridge wildfire with Diego Machado.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
“Talk about their experiences, how they felt, and just be able to have that communication with other people. I tried to talk with all of my neighbours about it and make sure that they were okay, seeing if they needed anything, even if it was just somebody to talk to.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
“The wildfire made people scared for the rest of the summer. It put a damper on the summer for people wanting to do things in the neighbourhood. It would have been nice to have a neighbourhood support group so people could talk about it more and explain their side of things.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Our elections are increasingly defined by the threats we face. That's why coverage of the dangers of climate change is so important. And that's why we were honoured @sfuceri.bsky.social cited the Climate Disaster Project as an example of how to get that coverage right. www.sfu.ca/ceri/publica...
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
"So the fact that you’re not able to confirm right then and there just heightened the anxiety around the flooding.” - student Sylvia Ndirangu, 2024 Kenya-Tanzania floods thewrennews.ca/the-fact-tha...
thewrennews.ca
'The fact that I saw something like this happening close to home made it more terrifying'
Sylvia Ndirangu shares her experience of the 2024 Kenya-Tanzania flood with author Shekainah Mendis.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
"The fact that I saw something like this happening close to home made it more terrifying. I began to think, you never know who was there when the person was taking the video. It could have been a family member. It could have been anybody."
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
“I remember seeing these massive, privately owned buses carrying people. As they’re driving on the road, the water becomes too heavy, and you see buses being swept away with people struggling and screaming through the buses. It was quite traumatic."
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
So the fact that you’re not able to confirm right then and there just heightened the anxiety around the flooding.” - student Sylvia Ndirangu, 2024 Kenya-Tanzania floods thewrennews.ca/the-fact-tha...
thewrennews.ca
'The fact that I saw something like this happening close to home made it more terrifying'
Sylvia Ndirangu shares her experience of the 2024 Kenya-Tanzania flood with author Shekainah Mendis.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
The fact that I saw something like this happening close to home made it more terrifying. I began to think, you never know who was there when the person was taking the video. It could have been a family member. It could have been anybody.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
“Imagine 100 upset people showing up one day to your property. We did try to be prepared as much as possible. We held some rooms for evacuees just in case.” - hotel front desk receptionist Anel Jazybaeva, 2023 Bush Creek fire thewrennews.ca/now-i-unders...
thewrennews.ca
'Now I understand that every experience is valuable
Anel Jazybaeva shares her story about the 2023 Bush Creek East wildfire with author Aibiike Alymova.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
“We were so lost when it actually happened. At that moment, when 100 people showed up at our doors, we didn’t know what to do.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
“It's something that you can be ready for but at the same time, you can’t prepare for it. We had lots of theoretical knowledge on what to do in these situations. We had lots of meetings on how to address emergency situations when they occur, but we've never faced it really on that scale."
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
“When the dry grass around us ignited, we barely escaped. It was clear that firefighting methods hadn’t evolved to match the intensity of modern fires.” - firefighter Cheyanne Watkinson, 2017 Elephant Hill fire thewrennews.ca/i-felt-this-...
thewrennews.ca
'I felt this was the right place to be, until I saw the flames'
Cheyanne Watkinson shares her experience of the 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire with author Harshika Gupta.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
“It landed right between us while we were walking in a line. If any of us had been a few steps to the side, the outcome could have been devastating. Another time, we were sent to work near live power lines despite the clear danger.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
“I had to crouch behind a rock, using a hose to spray water against my visor, creating a small pocket of breathable air. One of the most terrifying close calls was when my brothers and I were nearly crushed by a massive boulder.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
“The dangers were relentless. At one point, we crossed a bridge that was on fire. We couldn’t afford to slow down, even as the flames roared around us. During another operation, I encountered dense black smoke leaving me disoriented and gasping for air.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
“It’s too much for one person to endure. I think the fact I was involved in all these projects was part of my survival in staying stable as I am. Helping others a lot, making sure that people get necessary extra income possibilities, creating skills. You should never wait for the nation.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
“I tried to prevent this with everything I’ve got. I was involved in most of the communities affected by the drought for the best part of three, four years. I also felt bad for myself because we are in the same boat: our farm, our animals and everything.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
“Drought has got a very, very slow way to kill everything. Your hopes, your dreams, your self-esteem, your financial independence. A lot of farmers told me there’s no sense in living any more because they can’t look after their families, their workers, their farms and their animals.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
“They came in swarms to have something to eat. We made syrup for them. They are unbelievably happy the moment you put down this trace of sugar. They call more bees. For me, this was a clear sign that there is nothing left in the field, not even a little something left.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
“In 2017, the bees came to our house looking for food. Bees always find food in the fields. I never had the situation where bees come for help.” - sheep farmer Sybil Visagie, Northern Cape drought, as told to the Daily Maverick’s Kristin Engel #climatechange www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘Disaster is about caring. I’m not selfish any more’ – This is climate breakdown
We are used to seasonal droughts in the Karoo. But this did not stop. This is Sybil’s story
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Climate change won't just impact our future. It’s already impacting our present, at a local, human-level. And we must listen to the voices of climate disaster survivors so we can learn how to live through climate change together, as a world community.
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
We worked with sheep farmer Isabella Visagie to share her story of how drought in the Northern Cape, South Africa has harmed her community. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘Disaster is about caring. I’m not selfish any more’ – This is climate breakdown
We are used to seasonal droughts in the Karoo. But this did not stop. This is Sybil’s story
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
We worked with social worker Li Jie to share her story of how extreme rainfall in Guangdong, China in 2024 harmed her village. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘I find hope in sticking together and keeping each other warm’ – This is climate breakdown
When the rain kept coming down, people began to worry. We were afraid the dam up the hill might not hold up. This is Jie’s story
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
We worked with environmental manager Olivia Villebrun to share her story of how the Wood Buffalo complex fire in 2023 forced her to evacuate from Fort Smith, Canada. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘My legs were getting smashed in. My face was burning’ – This is climate breakdown
You had to drive through the fire to leave. I remember my heart racing. This is Olivia’s story
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
We worked with fashion designer Elisa Rossow to share her story of how she lost her mother when Storm Alex hit Saint-Martin-Vésubie, France in 2020. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘I’m imagining what my mother went through in her last seconds’ – This is climate breakdown
My brother called saying there was a storm. I was waiting, waiting, waiting. This is Elisa’s story
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
We worked with Indigenous leader José Fiuza Xakriabá to share his story of how drought in Central Brazil harmed his people. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘There are days when the school closes because children don’t have water to drink’ – This is climate breakdown
Until the 1960s it rained a lot. We ate wild game, fish, there were plenty of rivers, but since then they’ve been drying up. This is José’s story
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
We worked in a trauma-informed way with retiree Sônia Ferreira to share how coastal erosion destroyed her home in Atafona, Brazil. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘The sea was coming closer, it was so painful to see my house being destroyed’ – This is climate breakdown
When we built the house in 1978 we couldn’t see the sea. We never imagined that one day it would reach us. This is Sônia’s story
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
That’s why @theguardian.com and the Climate Disaster Project partnered with survivors around the planet to bring their stories to world leaders and audiences as part of the "This is Climate Breakdown" series. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
This is climate breakdown: a new series exploring the real impacts on people
How do you capture the effects of the climate crisis on people right now? We have collected testimonies from around the world
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
The survivors of climate disaster know what governments need to do in response to this threat. But too often survivors, such as Tera Sisco, who lost her six-year-old son when flash floods hit Nova Scotia, Canada in 2023, aren’t heard. #cop29 #climatechange www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘I lost my six year old son when flash floods inundated Nova Scotia’ – This is climate breakdown
Before the floods I was always with my boys. Always. This is Tera’s story
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
"We hope that Tupã has never died and never will. And that he can still make the weather better. But man needs to do his part, to stop so much deforestation, to stop killing the innocent, because in Brazil, it’s the Black and Indigenous people who die most often, because they’re innocent.”
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
"Our children believe they could die of thirst at any moment. Many young people think about committing suicide. Our dream was to get back at least a little piece of our river, the São Francisco, to try to bring the water from there to at least part of the reserve."
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Climate Disaster Project @climatedisaster.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
"We’re living through a drought that has lasted more than 10 years. There is very little rain. It’s not the fault of the Xakriabá. It’s the fault of the big businessmen, whose only thought is to destroy the land. The earth is dying because man himself is killing it."
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