Connecting the dots

Michael Copley, a correspondent for the Climate Desk at National Public Radio (NPR), didn’t envision a career covering climate change. Growing up, he said, science and math were not his strongest subjects. Instead, his path emerged from a deep interest in business reporting. This background has helped him uncover stories that highlight how climate influences the economy and how companies, in turn, shape the global response to a changing climate.

Copley spent nearly a decade working as a reporter at S&P Global, receiving what he called a “crash course in business journalism,” as he learned to analyze regulatory filings, listen to earnings calls, and interview corporate executives. He covered the renewable energy industry, a sector that was still emerging at the time. This experience sharpened his ability to interpret complex financial data and identify the economic forces driving the global energy transition.

When NPR launched its Climate Desk in 2022, Copley’s expertise in energy and business made him a natural fit, although he had not written extensively about climate science. His business reporting skills defined his approach to climate reporting, helping him uncover how businesses were responding to climate risks and opportunities.

But transitioning from industry news to public radio required a major shift in storytelling. At S&P Global, his work focused on delivering information to readers with a stake in the industry who sought technical and financial insights. “They didn’t need to be convinced to read the story,” he explained. “They already understood its importance.”

At NPR, he communicates with a broader public that may not closely follow climate or business issues. He said this change demands greater emphasis on narrative. By centering stories on people and communities, he helps listeners understand how corporate decisions affect their lives. “To make accountability reporting resonate, you need a compelling account of the impact on the ground,” he explained. Copley said he strives to balance technical accuracy with accessibility, guided by the questions:. “Where do you meet the audience? And how much do you assume they know?”

Today, his reporting spans industries, from insurance and utilities to renewable energy and finance, all through the lens of climate change. To navigate the scientific complexity of climate reporting, Copley has studied academic literature, consulted experts, and learned from colleagues with deep scientific expertise. Copley said that taking an interdisciplinary approach to reporting has broadened his perspective, allowing him to connect environmental science to economic realities.

As a panelist at BC’s Business of Climate panel on April 8, Copley emphasized the challenge of covering a topic as expansive as climate change. He argued that climate change should not be treated as a standalone issue but as a force that affects nearly every aspect of society. From aging infrastructure and sewage overflows to rising insurance costs and shifting energy investments, climate risks are woven into daily life. Journalists’ responsibility, he said, is “connecting the dots,” sometimes subtly, to help audiences grasp the broader context.

Looking ahead, Copley is eager to explore underreported stories, including sovereign debt in developing nations. He explained that high debt burdens can prevent countries from investing in infrastructure, clean energy, and disaster resilience, leaving them more vulnerable to climate impacts. He is also interested in examining the growing role of private equity in sectors such as utilities and digital infrastructure, where investment decisions carry significant environmental and social implications.

Despite the complexity of his beat, Copley remains guided by a simple principle: climate change is a story of risk, opportunity, and human impact. “Not every story has to be a climate story,” he said. “But this issue really cuts across the economy.”