How HEATED readers are moving the needle
Welcome back to HEATED—Arielle here. Emily is still in Sweden for the Global Investigative Journalism Conference, but she still found time to write about how our journalism inspired a community to take climate action. We’re incredibly proud, and touched, when readers tell us our work makes a difference. That’s why we got into climate journalism in the first place. If you’d like to take some climate action yourself, scroll down for ideas from fellow readers. And if you’re able to help keep our newsroom 100 percent independent—no advertisers, corporate sponsors, or billionaire philanthropists—we’d appreciate it if you joined our paid subscriber community today. How HEATED readers are moving the needleA recent newsletter inspired California readers to take local action. Today, we're hoping to inspire some more.Last month, I received an e-mail from a reader, informing me that one of HEATED’s recent newsletters was inspiring a significant amount of climate activism in San Mateo, California. Through this article, reader Mary Rose LeBaron discovered that her utility, PG&E, was among the offenders. Furious that her electric bill payments were funding an organization pushing climate delay and disinformation, she contacted organizers with the San Mateo Climate Action Team. Together, they decided to start a pressure campaign, calling on all climate-concerned citizens in their area to email and call PG&E, asking them to reconsider its relationship with AGA, which costs the company more than $800,000 a year. LeBaron estimates that more than 150 people took part in the action. But it didn’t stop there. Days later, twenty more organizations—including national groups like Earthjustice and Public Citizen—joined the call. In their letter to PG&E, the groups made a forceful case against AGA as a key player in climate disinformation and policy delay. The letter read:
HEATED asked PG&E these very same questions when we were reporting our article. But PG&E did not respond, likely because they believed no one would care. It was only once activists and ratepayers started demonstrating they did in fact care that PG&E responded—though clearly, they hoped no one would see it. In individual email responses to ratepayers all marked “Confidential,” PG&E CEO Patti Poppe defended the utility’s AGA membership, while also trying to distance itself at the same time. “Though we may not agree with every AGA policy position, we appreciate the opportunity to engage with our industry peers in these conversations, which allows PG&E to have a national platform to share ideas and planning around how we can together achieve a clean energy future,” Poppe wrote. Poppe did not specify which AGA policy positions PG&E disagreed with, nor did she specify what “ideas” PG&E is sharing with AGA to justify a $800,000 annual boost to the group at the expense of ratepayers. That’s because Poppe wasn’t actually trying to answer the concerns of ratepayers. Her wishy-washy response was merely an attempt to placate their anger, which represents a threat to PG&E’s greenwashing business strategy. But the San Mateo activists understand that the only way to create change is to refuse to be placated. In a conversation with HEATED, they said they are now figuring out how to push the campaign forward—and could use all the help they can get. So in the spirit of organizing with other people—and using this newsletter to do it—today we’re opening up the comments to our entire free subscriber community, composed of more than 78,000 people across all 50 states and 184 countries. Please comment if you are looking for local climate activism opportunities in your area—or if you run a local group, and are looking for members. For those interested in activism, let us know where you live and what type of work you may be interested in or good at; for those running local campaigns, tell us where you’re running them and what you need. Catch of the day: To make up for last week, we have two pals today. First up, reader Ellen sent us Milo the psychiatric servicedog sightseeing, and ruling over, the city of Aarhus, Denmark. And reader Harry sent us Django, a chill boxer with the best smile. Want to see your furry (or non-furry!) friend in HEATED? It might take a little while, but we WILL get to yours eventually! Just send a picture and some words to catchoftheday@heated.world. Invite your friends and earn rewardsIf you enjoy HEATED, share it with your friends and earn rewards when they subscribe. |
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How Exxon tried to twist climate science for profit
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
New internal documents reported by the Wall Street Journal illustrate exactly why thousands are taking to the street to protest fossil fuels this week.
These insurers are screwing the public on climate change
Sunday, September 17, 2023
While major US insurers drop coverage for people vulnerable to climate change, they're also investing billions in the companies that fuel it.
Why did this climate scientist chain herself to a pipeline?
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Rose Abramoff is determined to stop fossil fuels from destroying a livable climate, no matter the personal cost.
What you won't hear at India's G20
Thursday, September 7, 2023
As they arrive in New Delhi, world leaders will be talking a big game on climate. They won't be talking about their crackdowns on climate protesters.
Al Gore's new TED talk is out
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
The former vice president's powerful presentation couldn't have come at a more crucial time.
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