Matt McGrath is the Environment Correspondent for BBC News, specializing in climate policy, biodiversity, and international environmental governance. With over 25 years at the BBC, his reporting has shaped global understanding of climate science through:
“The engagement numbers prove audiences crave substantive climate reporting when it’s this compelling.” – BBC Editorial Director
Matt McGrath has established himself as one of the UK’s most authoritative voices on climate and environmental reporting over a career spanning more than two decades. Beginning as a science and technology editor at BBC Radio 5 in 1997, McGrath transitioned to environmental journalism in 2006, leveraging his knack for translating complex scientific concepts into accessible narratives. His 2012 appointment as BBC News’ Environment Correspondent marked a pivotal shift toward investigative climate reporting, where he has since covered every major UN climate summit and IPCC assessment.
This landmark 2018 article dissected the IPCC’s dire warning about limiting global warming to 1.5°C. McGrath combined granular technical details—such as the projected timeline for phasing out coal—with stark visuals of climate impacts already unfolding. The piece achieved unprecedented engagement, with over 3.5 million views and 750,000 social shares, particularly resonating with younger audiences (36% under 35). Its success demonstrated McGrath’s ability to balance scientific rigor with public urgency, setting a benchmark for climate journalism.
In this 2023 analysis, McGrath pioneered multimedia storytelling by integrating satellite imagery of melting glaciers with firsthand accounts from Inuit communities. The article’s interactive maps showing sea-level rise projections for coastal cities became a reference tool for policymakers. McGrath’s emphasis on "showing rather than telling" climate impacts influenced subsequent BBC coverage, including their Cop28 summit reporting.
McGrath’s 2022 deep dive into the UN’s Global Biodiversity Framework exposed the tension between conservation targets and economic interests. Through leaked documents and interviews with delegates, he revealed how oil-producing nations watered down protections for marine ecosystems. The piece prompted 17 parliamentary inquiries into national biodiversity strategies and remains cited in academic papers on environmental governance.
McGrath prioritizes research that directly informs international climate negotiations, such as studies quantifying emissions gaps or biodiversity loss thresholds. His coverage of the IPCC’s 1.5°C report [5] exemplifies this focus. Pitches should highlight peer-reviewed findings with clear implications for UNFCCC processes or national climate action plans.
With his Knight Science Journalism fellowship at MIT [5], McGrath actively seeks data visualization collaborators. Successful pitches include the 2021 permafrost thaw simulation developed with Cambridge University, which he transformed into an interactive explainer viewed 2.1 million times.
While avoiding overt activism, McGrath amplifies marginalized voices in climate discourse. His 2020 investigation into drought-induced migration patterns in Sahel communities [3] combined satellite drought maps with refugee narratives. NGOs with access to frontline communities should emphasize unique human stories backed by verifiable environmental data.
As demonstrated in his Panama Papers-style leak analysis of fishing subsidies [5], McGrath values international collaborations. Pitch transnational stories requiring document analysis across multiple jurisdictions, particularly those involving UN agencies or multinational corporations.
While critical of greenwashing, McGrath highlights scalable climate solutions. His 2023 series on peatland restoration partnerships [3] led to three European nations adopting similar models. Focus on innovations with proven pilot results and clear policy pathways for adoption.
“McGrath has redefined environmental reporting for the digital age, making planetary-scale changes feel personally urgent.” – Biophilia Award Committee [5]
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Climate, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
