Elbstrom is an independent editorial project based in Hamburg-Ottensen. We cover sustainability, green infrastructure, urban ecology and the everyday choices that shape our city's environmental future.
The journal launched in early 2024 after two environmental journalists—former contributors to regional broadsheets and public radio—decided Hamburg deserved a dedicated publication that treated climate and urban ecology as front-page beats, not weekend supplements.
What we cover
Our reporting focuses on the intersection of city life and environmental policy: public transport transitions, renewable energy projects, cycling infrastructure, waste reduction, water quality, green spaces and the communities that sustain them. We write about Hamburg specifically because local action is where sustainability becomes tangible.
Editorial independence
Elbstrom has no corporate sponsors, no institutional backers and no affiliate partnerships. Our operating costs are covered by the founding editors. We do not accept payment for coverage, and we do not run advertising. If that ever changes, we will disclose it plainly on this page.
Our team
The core editorial team consists of two journalists and a rotating group of freelance contributors drawn from Hamburg's environmental reporting community. Our writers have backgrounds in urban planning, environmental science, transport policy and investigative journalism. We fact-check every story internally before publication.
Standards
- All claims of fact are sourced. Where data comes from public agencies, we link to or cite the original report.
- We distinguish clearly between reporting and opinion.
- Corrections are published promptly and noted at the top of the relevant article.
- We do not alter quotes. Where a quote has been translated from German, we note this.
If you have questions about our editorial process, or want to suggest a story, please visit our contact page.