Extreme Heat

Sonal Jessel Discusses City’s Effort to Keep Residents Cool During the Summer of COVID-19 in Grist – July 6, 2020

In a July 6, 2020 article in Grist, WE ACT’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel explains why we have been advocating for access to air conditioners along with the funds to operate them for the most vulnerable members of

Peggy Shepard on Energy Insecurity in Center for American Progress – June 29, 2020

In a June 29, 2020 article on the intersection of extreme heat and COVID-19 in the Center for American Progress, WE ACT’s Co-Founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard raised the issue of energy insecurity and the need for more equitable

Sonal Jessel on Summer Heat, COVID-19, & Energy Insecurity in Bloomberg Law – June 17, 2020

In a June 17, 2020 article in Bloomberg Law on the intersection of extreme heat and the COVID-19 pandemic, our Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel raised the issue of energy insecurity, explaining that residents of many of the communities

Pollution and Pandemics: COVID-19’s Disproportionate Impact on Environmental Justice Communities

Two members of the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum – WE ACT for Environmental Justice and West End Revitalization Association – submitted a Letter for the Record in response to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce hearing titled, “Pollution and

Sonal Jessel Talked to Truthout About the Impacts of Extreme Heat on Communities of Color During COVID-19 – April 21, 2020

In an April 21, 2020 article in Truthout, WE ACT’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel discussed the challenge that summer’s extreme heat events – which have been increased in frequency, duration, and intensity by climate change – pose for

Peggy Shepard Quoted in Bloomberg on Impact of Extreme Heat on African American Communities – October 7, 2019

In an October 7, 2019 Bloomberg Environment article on the health impacts of climate change on communities of color, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard was quoted on the impact of extreme heat. Read the

Peggy Shepard Asks About Extreme Heat on CNN’s Climate Crisis Town Hall

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard was invited to CNN’s Climate Crisis Town Hall on September 4th, 2019 and asked Democratic Presidential Candidate Beto O’Rourke how he would help Americans deal with extreme heat, one

WE ACT Awarded $100,000 Grant from the Kresge Foundation to Build Climate Resilience and Improve Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 28, 2019 Contact: Chris Dobens, 212-961-1000 ext. 320, chris@weact.org HARLEM, NY — WE ACT for Environmental Justice (WE ACT) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Kresge Foundation to advance policy solutions aimed at

Coverage of WE ACT’s Urban Heat Projects Featured in Grist – August 13, 2019

On August 13, 2019, WE ACT’s Harlem Heat Project, Cooling Center Audit initiative, and Aditi Varshneya were featured in a Grist article on what New York City is doing to address heat and its impacts on the public. Read the

Harlem Heat Project in the American Meteorological Society’s Journal – January 7, 2019

WE ACT’s work in the Harlem Heat Project was showcased in a paper published in the American Meteorological Society’s online journal on January 7th, 2019. Read the Paper