Nathan Rott
Nathan Rott is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk, where he focuses on environment issues and the American West.
Based at NPR West in Culver City, California, Rott spends a lot of his time on the road, covering everything from breaking news stories like California's wildfires to in-depth issues like the management of endangered species and many points between.
Rott owes his start at NPR to two extraordinary young men he never met. As the first recipient of the Stone and Holt Weeks Fellowship in 2010, he aims to honor the memory of the two brothers by carrying on their legacy of making the world a better place.
A graduate of the University of Montana, Rott prefers to be outside at just about every hour of the day. Prior to working at NPR, he worked a variety of jobs including wildland firefighting, commercial fishing, children's theater teaching, and professional snow-shoveling for the United States Antarctic Program. Odds are, he's shoveled more snow than you.
-
Western Montana is a mecca for trout fishing. But trout need cold water to thrive, and the scorching temperatures are warming waters -- causing some anglers to rethink their approach to the sport.
-
There are roughly 100 large wildfires burning in the western U.S., including one of the largest in California history. Why so many? Scientists point to climate change and firefighting policies.
-
Due to the litigious nature of environmental and climate law, legal experts say the next president's judicial appointments might be their most consequential actions on climate over the next five years.
-
The Supreme Court's decision to end the so-called Chevron doctrine, limiting the power of government agencies, could have big implications for the fight against climate change.
-
When authorities find wildlife being illegally trafficked at ports or airports, the animals are often in terrible shape. A project in Southern California aims to get seized wildlife immediate care.
-
The newest version of the popular board game Catan will make players wrestle with a society-wide problem: How do you build, develop and expand without overly polluting the world?
-
Widespread flooding in southern California is turning hillsides into rivers of mud, knocking out power to many and leading to evacuation orders in some areas. At least three people have been killed.
-
Heavy rainfall and flooding is expected, and evacuation orders and warnings have been issued in some counties on the state's Southern and Central coast.
-
California is getting drenched by what meteorologists are calling a life-threatening storm.
-
The COP28 climate negotiations in Dubai wrapped up early today with an agreement that calls on nations to transition away from fossil fuels. But some counties say this still doesn't go far enough.