When I started working on climate change full-time two and a half years ago, I poured over books, articles, and United Nations reports about the challenges we face—both global and local. I wanted the facts, like why scientists say we need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. Or what the melting Arctic ice caps mean for rising sea levels. I wanted to understand the bad news. I found it in books like David Wallace-Wells’ “The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming.” The chapter titles paint a terrifying picture of a warming planet: “Heat Death,” “Hunger,” “Unbreathable Air,” “Economic Collapse.” I’ve written stories about how the effects of global warming are showing up here in the Carolinas, creating unhealthy urban heat islands, bringing flooding and beach erosion, and forcing farmers to adapt to saltwater intrusion and rising sea levels. These hard facts can get you down. But they’re also a motivator. As more people understand what climate change means, they’re becoming more concerned about it. This is especially true when they see climate change in their everyday lives—like storms, wildfires, or flooding. (David Borak)