Brendan Rivers

Brendan Rivers is the lead reporter for ADAPT, where he also writes the ADAPT email newsletter, hosts live events, and hosts and produces the ADAPT podcast profiling local people who are working on the issue of climate change. 

Brendan's climate bylines include NPR, The Guardian, Grist, The Miami Herald, and The Florida Times-Union. He is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and a former fellow with InsideClimate News and Climate Matters in the Newsroom.

Brendan has worked as a reporter for WJCT News and as a news director at Southern Stone Communications radio stations in the Daytona Beach area. 

Brendan Rivers can be reached at brivers@wjct.org and on Twitter at @BrendanRivers.

Featured image for “Community meetings are next step for Jax chief resilience officer”
Jacksonville's Chief Resiliency Officer Anne Coglianese working at her desk.
January 23, 2023

Community meetings are next step for Jax chief resilience officer

“We’re going to be really guided by the data. But also, it’s so important for that data to be grounded…

Featured image for “Duval high school cancels play over sexual content”
January 6, 2023

Duval high school cancels play over sexual content

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts pulled the plug on the production of “Indecent.”…

Featured image for “After Ian and Nicole, experts warn of health risks from blue-green algae”
A 2016 algae bloom at Doctors Lake. Credit: Dr. Gerry Pinto, Jacksonville University
November 22, 2022

After Ian and Nicole, experts warn of health risks from blue-green algae

Climate change is fueling toxic blooms of blue-green algae. Exposure to poisons produced by the blooms can lead to health…

Featured image for “An ADAPT Q&A with North Florida Green Chamber Executive Director Jessica Tittl”
Jessica Tittl, executive director of the North Florida Green Chamber of Commerce | Andrew Wiechman
October 6, 2022

An ADAPT Q&A with North Florida Green Chamber Executive Director Jessica Tittl

The North Florida Green Chamber of Commerce recently selected Jessica Tittl as its new executive director. She has some pretty…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY: Answering your local Hurricane Ian questions”
A JEA water pump sits at the ready at the corner of Landon Avenue and San Marco Boulevard in San Marco.
September 27, 2022

#AskJAXTDY: Answering your local Hurricane Ian questions

The Jacksonville Today team is answering storm prep questions ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall on Florida’s west coast tomorrow.…

Featured image for “ADAPT | A Q&A with Jay Stowe, CEO of JEA”
JEA CEO Jay Stowe. Credit: Karen McAllister, JEA
September 26, 2022

ADAPT | A Q&A with Jay Stowe, CEO of JEA

Stowe fills us in on skyrocketing electricity bills, a failed solar project, JEA’s future energy mix and the status of…

Featured image for “JEA ready for peak hurricane season despite supply chain challenges”
A JEA lineman. Credit: JEA
August 24, 2022

JEA ready for peak hurricane season despite supply chain challenges

JEA and FPL say they’re ready to restore power quickly no matter what happens this hurricane season, but the Florida…

Featured image for “Jacksonville named at risk for ‘climate gentrification.’ How can we lessen the threat?”
The Locals and Legends mural can be found on the corner of A. Philip Randolph Blvd. and Pippin St. in Jacksonville's Eastside. Credit: Lindsey Kilbride, WJCT News
July 28, 2022

Jacksonville named at risk for ‘climate gentrification.’ How can we lessen the threat?

A researcher at FSU says climate change fueled displacement of residents is a looming “existential crisis” for Jacksonville and other…

Featured image for “Citizen scientists help map the heat in Jacksonville”
A view of VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
July 14, 2022

Citizen scientists help map the heat in Jacksonville

Extreme heat is the deadliest form of hazardous weather and Jacksonville will soon have data showing how the city is…

Featured image for “Florida Power & Light sets ambitious goal to eliminate carbon emissions by 2045”
FPL solar power trees in Downtown Miami. Credit: Felix Mizioznikov
June 21, 2022

Florida Power & Light sets ambitious goal to eliminate carbon emissions by 2045

The parent company of Florida’s largest utility has announced plans to expand its use of solar energy and other renewable…

Featured image for “Jacksonville isn’t letting ‘a single grant opportunity slip by’ for resilience”
A woman wades through flood water from the St. Johns River following Hurricane Irma on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Jacksonville. Credit: John Bazemore, Associated Press
May 31, 2022

Jacksonville isn’t letting ‘a single grant opportunity slip by’ for resilience

Jacksonville has secured millions in funding for resilience projects and the city expects to get a lot more by the…

Featured image for “Calling for stricter pollution control, advocates urge JEA to phase out Northside Generating Station”
JEA's Northside Generating Station. Credit: JEA
May 13, 2022

Calling for stricter pollution control, advocates urge JEA to phase out Northside Generating Station

More than 90% of all greenhouse gas emissions from large facilities in Jacksonville can be traced back to JEA and…

Featured image for “UNF program pairs tomorrow’s environmental leaders with today’s challenges”
UNF student Ashlynn Kemp, the Environmental Leadership Program’s project leader of the year, speaking at the Spring Symposium on April 8. Credit: Laura Evans Photography
April 26, 2022

UNF program pairs tomorrow’s environmental leaders with today’s challenges

The Environmental Leadership Program at the University of North Florida is preparing students to be future environmental leaders through training…

Featured image for “A surprising climate change contributor: retention ponds that reduce flooding”
A stormwater pond in Arlington's St. Johns Forest Apartments. Credit: Jule Varvel
April 6, 2022

A surprising climate change contributor: retention ponds that reduce flooding

While stormwater ponds do offer benefits, new research from UF indicates that they may be delivering a net disservice by…

Featured image for “Florida rooftop solar change seems likely to pass, over pushback from solar industry”
Protestors gather in front of the Florida capitol in opposition to Sen. Bradley's net metering bill. Credit: Solar United Neighbors
March 3, 2022

Florida rooftop solar change seems likely to pass, over pushback from solar industry

Fleming Island state Sen. Jennifer Bradley says her bill would get rid of a subsidy that utility customers without rooftop…

Featured image for “Where do Jacksonville City Council candidates stand on climate change?”
Republican Nick Howland (left) and Democrat Tracye Polson (right) face off in a runoff election this month for Jacksonville's at-large City Council group 3 seat. Credit: Claire Heddles, WJCT News
February 17, 2022

Where do Jacksonville City Council candidates stand on climate change?

With election day fast approaching, the race to fill the at-large Jacksonville City Council seat left vacant by the late…

Featured image for “Building Flood Resilience Into Urban Systems”
February 15, 2022

Building Flood Resilience Into Urban Systems

This is the second installment of the “Let’s Talk About Resilience” webinar series presented in partnership with the GTM Research…

Featured image for “Controversial author Steven Koonin to speak about climate change in Jacksonville”
A man pulls a kayak down a flooded street in the wake Hurricane Irma, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
January 25, 2022

Controversial author Steven Koonin to speak about climate change in Jacksonville

When it comes to climate change, many of Koonin’s views — as expressed in his book and in prior speaking…

Featured image for “Could bacteria help reduce shoreline erosion? UNF researchers aim to find out”
UNF professors Terri Ellis (left) and Raphael Crowley (right).
January 18, 2022

Could bacteria help reduce shoreline erosion? UNF researchers aim to find out

Researchers at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville are studying how a naturally occurring bacteria could be used to…

Featured image for “Doug Eng: Environmental activism through art”
Doug Eng
December 22, 2021

Doug Eng: Environmental activism through art

Through his art, Jacksonville photographer Doug Eng is trying to help people gain more of an appreciation for the natural…

Featured image for “Under JEA’s SolarMax program, companies can get 100% electricity from solar”
December 17, 2021

Under JEA’s SolarMax program, companies can get 100% electricity from solar

Companies including Florida Blue and Johnson and Johnson are signing onto a new program from JEA that allows corporations to…

Featured image for “Rising seas swamp Black, Spanish and Indigenous history in St. Johns County”
December 2, 2021

Rising seas swamp Black, Spanish and Indigenous history in St. Johns County

A city reliant on heritage tourism struggles to protect its most valuable assets.…

Featured image for “Site-Scale Green Infrastructure Solutions For Shoreline Management”
November 30, 2021

Site-Scale Green Infrastructure Solutions For Shoreline Management

This is the first event of the “Let’s Talk About Resilience” webinar series presented in partnership with the GTM Research…

Featured image for “A Florida climate scientist sees 5 ways the infrastructure bill will help protect us”
President Joe Biden signs the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill into law during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Nov. 15, 2021. On Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online spreading falsehoods about why the presidential seal on Biden’s desk was blurred in a recent video that was shared on Vice President Kamala Harris’ Twitter account. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
November 19, 2021

A Florida climate scientist sees 5 ways the infrastructure bill will help protect us

One of Florida’s top climate scientists says the Biden administration’s new infrastructure bill isn’t a climate panacea but, he says,…