Extreme Heat

WE ACT Responds to the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus’ 2022-23 “People’s Budget”

NEW YORK — New York State’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus released its Fiscal Year 2023 “People’s Budget” on January 17, 2022. The document details what these legislators view as the state’s budgetary needs for its

WE ACT Responds to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2022 State of the State Agenda

In her first State-of-the-State address, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul demonstrated a commitment to the environment and fighting climate change, though largely came up short in addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change, air pollution, toxic chemicals, and other

Peggy Shepard & Sonal Jessel Recognized Among City & State New York’s Energy & Environment Power 100 – Dec. 20, 2021

On December 20, 2021, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard and Director of Policy Sonal Jessel were named among City & State New York’s Energy & Environment Power 100. Read the Article

Peggy Shepard’s Extreme Heat in East Harlem Op-Ed in the Daily News – August 12, 2021

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard penned an Op-Ed on the impacts of extreme heat in communities of color, like East Harlem, that was published in the New York Daily News on August 12, 2021.

Sonal Jessel Takes the Verge on Our East Harlem Heat Tour – July 14, 2021

When the Verge approached us to learn more about the Urban Heat Island effect, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Director of Policy and resident heat expert Sonal Jessel, M.P.H. took journalist Justine Calma and her film crew on our East

Peggy Shepard on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Rev. Al Sharpton – July 11, 2021

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard was interviewed live on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Rev. Al Sharpton on July 11, 2021. She was asked about the extreme weather we’ve been experiencing as well as her work

Sonal Jessel on Extreme Heat in East Harlem in National Geographic – June 17, 2021

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Director of Policy Sonal Jessel, M.P.H. was featured in a June 17, 2021 National Geographic article on the impact of extreme heat around the world. She gave the journalist a “heat tour” of East Harlem

Sonal Jessel Talks About Extreme Heat and Climate Justice on Can’t Take the Heat – September 3, 2020

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel was interviewed on the Can’t Take the Heat podcast, which is produced by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. The interview aired on September 3, 2020, and she

Sonal Jessel Voices Concern About NYC’s Get Cool Program in the New York Times – August 21, 2020

In an August 21, 2020 article in the New York Times, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel voiced concerns about the effectiveness of New York City’s Get Cool program, which was designed to provide free

Sonal Jessel Offers Recommendations to Improve Communications During Extreme Heat Events in the New York Times – August 5, 2020

In an August 5, 2020 article in the New York Times, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel offered New York City recommendations on how to improve communications with vulnerable populations during extreme heat events. Read