Supported projects

BARUTH / ORTONA / TÂRGU NEAMȚ - Across Europe, communities are facing a water crisis fueled by decades of poor groundwater management and climate change. This investigation examines the causes and consequences of water scarcity related to groundwater reserves in three of the most affected EU countries: Italy, Germany, and Romania.

ROME – Over 300,000 people have subscribed to an Eni bond advertised as "green," including by major Italian media outlets. They may have contributed, without knowing it, to global warming.

JOHANNESBURG – The EU's ban on Russian coal imports has led to an eightfold increase in coal exports from South Africa, making it Europe’s third largest supplier of coal. This surge has exacerbated unregulated mining practices in South Africa, leading to serious environmental and social issues, including contaminated water, health problems, and a surge in illegal mining activities.

MAR MENOR/AMALFI - Since their invention in the 1940s, modern sunscreens have become an essential vacation item, ubiquitous on beaches around the globe. However, after decades of mixing with the world’s seas and oceans via the lathered skin of tourists and sunbathers, the damage caused to sub-aquatic ecosystems by sunscreen ingredients has started to surface. This investigation reveals how sunscreen manufacturers are contaminating Mediterranean waters in Spain's Mar Manor and Italy's Amalfi Coast.

SURABAYA - Plastic waste from the European Union is making its way to Indonesia in shipments destined for Indonesian paper mills. Non-recyclable plastic ends up in landfills, waterways, or is incinerated, polluting the environment and endangering vulnerable communities.

VALENCIA - In recent years, several European countries have faced devastating floods, sparking discussions on how to mitigate or prevent such disasters. In Spain, the tragedy in Valencia in October 2024 has led to the exploration of solutions like early warning systems, architectural adaptations, and better regulation of flood-prone areas. 

ROTTERDAM - In the late 1980s, an existing plans to convert Rotterdam The Hague Airport into a residential area was already underway. A team of investigative journalists aims to find out how closing down airports within close proximity to a city delivers a higher quality of life to the residents of the surrounding cities.

BAHIA – This cross-border investigation analysed how wind parks owned by Enel, the major Italian energy company, appear to be linked to green grabbing in Brazil.

AMSTERDAM – The Investigative Teaching Lab is an intensive on-the-job training course for European investigative journalists, developed by The Investigative Desk, a Dutch non-profit for investigative journalism.

SKOPJE / SOFIA – North Macedonia faces record forest loss for the second year in a row, outpacing other countries in the Western Balkans. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, between 2020 and 2024, wildfires have ravaged 134,314 hectares of forest and woodlands in North Macedonia, the largest loss in the region.