climate change

Extreme Heat is Killing People in Prison. What’s Being Done About It?

As advocates fight to provide relief to incarcerated people, officials are resisting many measures that could help prisoners combat the heat.

Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg, Nick Wing Aug 29, 2023

Facing the Climate Crisis From a Texas Prison Cell

For the past seven summers, I have lived in solitary confinement without air conditioning. A trip to medical during a heat wave helped put the climate crisis into perspective.

Kwaneta Harris Jul 28, 2023

East Coast Wildfires Put Incarcerated People on Frontlines of Climate Crisis

More than 150 detention facilities experienced “hazardous” air last week, according to an analysis by The Appeal. As wildfires have gotten worse, prisoners are facing a unique threat.

Alleen Brown Jun 13, 2023

Climate Justice Is Central to Kate Knuth’s Bid for Minneapolis Mayor

The former state legislator and resilience officer sees progressive economic policies as part and parcel of curbing climate change.

Cinnamon Janzer Jun 01, 2021

30 Years of Power Outages and Campaign Donations in Texas

State officials funded by power companies have been warned, since at least 1989, that the power grid was at risk of failure in cold weather. They have consistently failed to act.

Jerry Iannelli Feb 26, 2021

California’s D.A. Association Misspent $3 million. Environmental Groups Want it Repaid

A coalition of environmental groups urges the legislature to force the repayment and dissociate from the CDAA.

Jerry Iannelli Feb 23, 2021

Joe Biden Has to Be More Than the Man Who Defeated Trump

A Democratic president who politely listens to progressive rhetoric while failing to act on it is one who just watches the planet burn a little more slowly.

Jay Willis Nov 12, 2020

The Senate Filibuster Is Hollowing Out American Democracy

If Democrats win control of the Senate, allowing this archaic tradition to survive will make everything of significance the party hopes to accomplish virtually impossible.

Jay Willis Nov 02, 2020

In Effort to Slow Climate Change, Texas Democrat Seeks Seat On Oil Regulation Board

Chrysta Castañeda wants to use the state Railroad Commission’s powers to stop energy companies from engaging in environmentally harmful practices like burning excess gas.

Jerry Iannelli Oct 22, 2020

From Criminal Justice Reform To Protecting The Democracy, Mondaire Jones Wants To Bring ‘Big Structural Changes’ To Congress

Jones, who is running in New York’s 17th District, says fighting systemic racism and hyperpartisanship are top priorities.

Lauren Gill Oct 14, 2020

A New Law To Help Formerly Incarcerated Firefighters Is Far More Limited Than It Seems

California just made it a tiny bit easier for formerly incarcerated people to become civilian firefighters. But the law still leaves many obstacles in their path.

Jay Willis Sep 15, 2020

Cops, Climate, COVID: Why There Is Only One Crisis

Although the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis are both provoked by natural phenomena, the dangers they present are just as political as the crisis of police violence.

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò Jun 16, 2020

Climate movement could radically transform criminal system

Spotlights like this one provide original commentary and analysis on pressing criminal justice issues of the day. You can read them each day in our newsletter, The Daily Appeal. “Environmentalism is now equated with social justice and civil rights,” wrote professors Robert D. Bullard and Glenn S. Johnson in the Journal of Social Issues almost 20 years ago. […]

Sarah Lustbader Sep 20, 2019