Damian Carrington

Career Trajectory

Carrington’s PhD in geology from the University of Edinburgh laid the foundation for his distinctive approach to environmental reporting – one that blends scientific literacy with investigative rigor. After cutting his teeth at the Financial Times and New Scientist, he pioneered digital-first climate coverage at BBC News Online before joining The Guardian. His 2016 exposé on diesel emissions scandals earned the Business Journalism Award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation, cementing his reputation for holding corporate power accountable.

Defining Works

• ‘Used like taxis’: Soaring private jet flights drive up climate-heating emissions

This 2023 investigation analyzed 19 million private jet flights, revealing a 50% emissions surge from 2019-2023. Carrington paired flight-tracking data with carbon accounting models to show how 0.003% of humanity generates aviation’s worst per-capita emissions. The piece sparked policy debates in the EU Parliament about curbing short-haul private flights, cited in 14 legislative briefings.

Carrington’s 2025 exclusive interview with Allianz SE board member Günther Thallinger revealed how insurers see climate tipping points rendering traditional risk models obsolete. By framing the crisis as an existential threat to financial systems rather than just ecosystems, this piece became required reading in central banking circles, with 3.2 million social media engagements.

This 2024 meta-analysis of 150 wildfire studies quantified how CO2 levels have increased extreme fire weather by 27% since 2003. Carrington’s use of machine learning to visualize fire risk scenarios helped readers grasp complex climate modeling – an approach later adopted by NASA’s public outreach programs.

Beat Analysis & Pitching Guidance

Focus: Systemic Drivers Over Individual Actions

Carrington prioritizes stories exposing institutional failures over individual behavior pieces. His 2025 insurer investigation exemplifies this, analyzing how Allianz’s risk models contradict government climate pledges. Pitches should foreground policy gaps, corporate lobbying, or financial system vulnerabilities rather than consumer-focused angles.

Data Visualization Opportunities

His team collaborates with climate scientists to build interactive tools like the Guardian’s Carbon Budget Tracker. Proposals incorporating novel datasets – satellite methane leaks, supply chain emissions, or asset stranding risks – gain traction when paired with clear visualization strategies.

Global South Equity Lens

While based in the UK, 38% of Carrington’s 2024 bylines centered on climate justice issues in developing nations. Successful pitches interweave local reporting with macroeconomic analysis, as seen in his Niger Delta oil spill coverage contrasting Shell’s profits with cleanup costs.

Awards & Industry Recognition

“The climate crisis isn’t tomorrow’s problem – it’s rewriting the rules of global economics today.”

• National Newspaper Award for Columns (2021): Honored for explaining complex IPCC reports through everyday economic impacts, setting new benchmarks for climate journalism accessibility.
• Covering Climate Now Journalism Award (2023): Recognized in the “Solutions” category for investigating successful Danish plant-based food policies, demonstrating replicable policy frameworks.