In the face of climate urgency and environmental crises, journalists need investigative tools adapted to environmental reporting, particularly those used in ECOSINT (Environmental and Climate Open-Source Intelligence), meaning open-source research on environmental issues. To support them, Reporters Without Borders offers a practical guide dedicated to ECOSINT, enabling journalists to document, analyze, and tell the stories behind ecological crises. The first article focused on methodology; this second article focuses on tools.
RSF has compiled online tools available to journalists who wish to investigate environmental issues.
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Essential Tools and Software for Data Collection and Analysis
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- Google Sheets — Collaborative spreadsheet tool for organizing, structuring, and processing data.
- Flourish — Creation of interactive charts and maps without programming skills.
- Datawrapper — Simple and effective tool for producing professional maps and graphics.
- Google Earth — Geospatial visualization and analysis of environmental changes.
- Bellingcat Toolkit — A platform gathering online open-source investigation tools along with explanatory guides.
- Additional mapping resources compiled by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) are also available, including lists of tools and software for creating maps and graphics, as well as tools for accessing satellite imagery.
- RSF also provides a list of external resources on its website dedicated to journalist resources.
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Finding Experts on Environmental Issues
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- Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) — International archives of environmental journalism resources, tools, and guides for journalists.
- Friends of the Earth International — Activist network focused on climate justice, biodiversity, and human rights.
- World Resources Institute — Directory of experts specializing in ecosystem services.
- The Nature Conservancy — International network of scientists and environmental experts.
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF) — Experts in biodiversity, climate, and oceans.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) — Experts in climate, energy, health, and the environment.
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International Environmental Data Portals
| Impact Area | Tool / Platform | Specific Use |
| General | Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) | Thousands of resources (guides, fact sheets, videos) in 14 languages covering: |
| Biodiversity | International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List | Database documenting endangered species |
| Gas | SkyTruth Flaring Map | Mapping gas flaring sites and volumes |
| Oil | SkyTruth Cerulean | Detection and monitoring of offshore oil spills |
| Fishing | Global Fishing Watch | Monitoring global fishing vessel activity |
| Emissions (Methane/CO2) | Carbon Mapper | Identification of precise methane and CO2 emission sources |
| Forests | Global Forest Watch | Real-time monitoring of global deforestation |
| Protected Areas | Protected Planet | Global database of protected areas |
| Mining Conflicts | MineAlertAfrica | Conflicts between protected areas and mining licenses across 18 African countries |
| Energy Projects | Global Energy Monitor | Comprehensive database on global energy projects |
| Corporate Declarations | CDP | Data on emissions reported by companies and local authorities |
| Extractive Contracts | ResourceContracts.org | Search engine for licenses and contracts in extractive industries |
| Mining Transparency | Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) | Transparency initiative for extractive industries |
| Energy | World Nuclear Association | Reactor database with information on nuclear power plants |
Some of these resources come from the list compiled by the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and are among the many tools available through its Help Desk page.
- Practical Advice for Using the Tools
- Combine multiple sources: use satellite imagery, open data, and field reporting to strengthen reliability.
- Collaborate: work with data analysts and scientific experts to enrich investigations.
- Contextualize data: show the human impact behind the numbers to increase relevance and emotional resonance.
- Test and experiment: become familiar with the tools before integrating them into a report.
Further Reading：
- Discover the ECOSINT tools
- Discover the RSF guide to covering the Climate Crisis
This resource was compiled by RSF in collaboration with Togo Reporting Post.