Ben Jealous
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Rising Waters Will Not Drown the American Spirit
On the Fourth of July, Donald Trump signed his “megabill.” The law boosts the dying fossil fuel industry with tens of billions of taxpayer dollars. It invites an additional 470 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year by 2035 – that’s the equivalent annual emissions of more than 100 million gas-powered cars. And it aims to stop dead in its tracks the clean energy transition and the green manufacturing jobs boom the Inflation Reduction Act was already starting to create.
In Iowa, a Pipeline Fight Shows What the People Can Do
It is easy to be cynical about politics these days. More than cynical. The rise of political violence, fueled by partisan division and anti-democracy extremism, continues to leave Americans of every race, religion, state, and political stripe horrified.
The Truth Makes Us Free
My grandmother taught me we are all born into a great, unfinished struggle. She meant the struggle for justice. For truth. For dignity.
When Demagogues Blame the Vulnerable, We All Lose
In hard times, people look for answers. The decimation of American manufacturing starting in the 1990s with trade agreements like NAFTA led to decades of downward economic mobility for working families. That creates ripe conditions for demagogues to come out of the woodwork offering an easy answer for people’s pain. And if history teaches us anything, that answer is usually someone else to blame.
Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Cruelty is a National Scourge – And Would Be Made Worse by the MAGA Budget Bill
“Our neighbors are living in fear. And that’s what the administration wants. They want people to be scared. So, we’re combatting that by bringing the neighborhood together and saying, ‘you’re not going to frighten us into complicity; you’re not going to frighten us into hiding; we’re one neighborhood, regardless of anyone’s immigration status, and we’re going to stay one neighborhood.’”
Cutting Energy Star Hurts Americans – And Helps No One But Polluters
“Look for the Energy Star.” Most Americans know that is excellent advice to anyone appliance shopping. That little blue label saves American consumers roughly $40 billion a year in energy costs every year.
Poisoning Our Future: The Trump Administration's Dangerous Coal Exemptions
Another day, another deadly move that defies logic, morality, and economic common sense.
The New “Great Dying” Deserves Our Attention and Action
My childhood growing up in Pacific Grove, California was blessed with the kind of exposure to and immersion in nature that all kids deserve. We played among towering redwood trees that seemed to reach all the way to heaven. We surfed at Asilomar Beach, and marveled at both how small we are in our place in nature yet how connected we all are. And, a privilege of living in Pacific Grove specifically, we got to witness the migration of western monarch butterflies.
Trump’s Tariffs Hurt Workers. A Smarter Trade Strategy Could Empower Them.
In the Trump era, economic policy often comes with more bluster than strategy. His latest round of tariffs is no exception. Slapped on a broad swath of imported goods without rhyme, reason, or regard for the people who will bear the brunt of the cost – American families and workers – these tariffs are a political stunt masquerading as industrial policy.
Preserving Our Natural Wonders is a Patriotic Cause Worth Fighting
Dorothy Gibbs chanted “save our parks” from her wheelchair while holding a sign that read “97 years old, still fighting for public lands!”
Trump’s EPA is at War with the Americans it is Supposed to Protect
As they say in horror movies, the call is coming from inside the house. Under Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reversed its own mission. And last week, EPA Administration Lee Zeldin outright declared war on the American people.
Trump’s EPA is at War with the Americans it is Supposed to Protect
As they say in horror movies, the call is coming from inside the house. Under Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reversed its own mission. And last week, EPA Administration Lee Zeldin outright declared war on the American people.
They Cannot Rob Us of Our History and Our Place in America’s Story
My grandfather’s first cousin was Lieutenant Colonel Howard Lee Baugh. Cousin Howard was part of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, the first unit of the Tuskegee Airmen. This month marks the 84th anniversary of the activation of the Squadron at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Illinois, about 120 miles southwest of Chicago.
Letting Coal Die Will Save Both Lives and Money and Create Jobs (In Coal States Too!)
Note to every American: Keeping coal plants open – never mind bringing more online – kills people. And closing coal plants saves lives.
From Elon, With Love: You’re Fired.
It was February 14. But what nearly 400 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees got that day were not Valentines. They were pink slips.
In Fire’s Wake, a Community Comes Together to Prevent Future Disasters
“As we address the aftermath of the wildfires, let us resolve not just to build back better but also smarter, with a commitment to the environment and future generations. As a pastor, I am guided by the principle that caring for creation is an integral part of our faith. Let us take inspiration from the teachings of love and stewardship, embracing the role of being good caretakers of God's earth. Without a shadow of a doubt, community solidarity is crucial in the fight against climate change.”
President Trump Will Raise Your Energy Bills
Ratepayers beware. Team Trump’s eagerness to enrich his fossil fuel industry cronies with his “drill baby drill” (and export baby export) agenda is going to raise energy costs for American households.
Trump’s Team is Coming for Climate Science. The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse.
It is official: 2024 was the hottest year on record. Temperatures not only surpassed 2023 as the previous hottest year, they leapt – for the first time – past the goal set in the Paris Climate Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
In Its Final Days, the Biden Administration Delivers Big Time for America’s Coastal Communities
It may be the dead of winter, but when we think about our beaches none of us want to picture them covered in oil. That is true for those of us who live along the water and those who live hundreds of miles from any ocean. Regardless of our generation, we can all picture what it looks like. For some, it is the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
Gas is Dirty. LNG Proponents Don’t Just Ignore the Facts, They Ignore the Human Toll.
Not long after her adopted twins came to live with her in Freeport, Texas, Melanie Oldham saw their health start to decline. Both children were diagnosed with severe asthma.
The Liberty in Laundry Act Sounds Like a Joke. Sadly It’s Not.
The incoming Trump administration is supposedly interested in “efficiency.” It has a whole quasigovernmental department – the Elon Musk- and Vivek Ramaswamy-chaired Department of Government Efficiency – purportedly ready to take aim at government waste. So why are the very same people going to such extremes to make wasting energy one of their highest priorities?
A Better Discussion Guide: Finding Common Ground Around the Holiday Dinner Table
The holidays are a time for coming together. We should not just be coming together physically to drive us further apart mentally, emotionally, and spiritually by reinforcing our differences.
Bipartisanship Cannot Be a Dirty Word
What is one thing – just one – you can agree on with someone on the opposite side of the political divide? The late General Colin Powell once told me, “Figure that out and you can get a lot done. And as you win one victory together, you might just discover along the way that there’s something else you agree on.”
America’s Healing Can Start with Family Around the Holidays
With the holiday season approaching, it seems that our country could not be more divided. That division has been perhaps the main overarching topic of our national conversation in recent years. And it has taken root within many of our own families.
Why We Cannot and Will Not Go Backwards on Clean Energy
More jobs. Better jobs. Lower energy prices. Cleaner water. Cleaner air. Fewer asthma attacks. Fewer heart attacks.
The Clock is Ticking for the Government to Do What is Right for this Flooded Historic Black Community
Ever since 2018, when the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) expanded a highway running through the town, stormwater runoff floods the homes in this community whenever it rains. It is an ongoing crisis.
Indigenous Communities Continue to Lead in Some of Our Most Crucial Environmental Fights
Contamination from lead, arsenic, and the other toxins in Tar Creek in northeastern Oklahoma stole the potential of many children of the Quapaw Nation. As a parent, I can only imagine the anguish and the anger. As a lifelong activist for civil and human rights and the environment, I deeply admire the resilience of the Quapaw and the many Indigenous communities with similar stories.
The Plastics Inside of You Right Now
If you are reading this indoors, there is a good chance there are hundreds of invisible plastic particles floating around in the room you are in. There is also a good chance you may be breathing some of them in.
Opening Doors of Opportunity Can Heal the Nation
If you want to heal America you have to understand what is hurting America.
Saving the World as a Path to Prosperity
“Made in the USA” is a tagline that should apply to every major piece of the clean energy economy. It is within our grasp. But we need to bust some myths.
The Figures Who Helped Shape Vice President Harris
When Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president in 2021, she swore her oath of office on two Bibles.
Our Transition to the Green Economy Does Not Need to be Slow to be Just and Equitable
“What good is a dollar an hour more in wages if your neighborhood is burning down? What good is another week’s vacation if the lake you used to go to is polluted and you can’t swim in it and the kids can’t play in it?”
Our Transition to the Green Economy Does Not Need to be Slow to be Just and Equitable
“What good is a dollar an hour more in wages if your neighborhood is burning down? What good is another week’s vacation if the lake you used to go to is polluted and you can’t swim in it and the kids can’t play in it?”
Kamala Harris’s Chicago Convention and Illinois’ Unique Place in Civil Rights History
The modern civil rights movement hit a new peak last week in Illinois. It marked the movement coming full circle, in a way, back to the state of its birth more than a century ago.
The IRA is Still Our Biggest Step Toward a Brighter Future for Our Children
I often think about a factory hallway in Dalton, Georgia that is filled with pictures drawn by children. It is a reminder of what can be, what will be, thanks to the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which celebrates its second anniversary this month.
Real Climate Solutions Demand a Strong Democracy
As we celebrate the 59th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) this month, it is important we remember: the only way to tackle the complex challenges of our time is with a democracy that is responsive to the people it represents.
Real Climate Solutions Demand a Strong Democracy
As we celebrate the 59th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) this month, it is important we remember: the only way to tackle the complex challenges of our time is with a democracy that is responsive to the people it represents.
When Silence is Cowardice: Simply Telling the Truth is Not a Call to Violence. It Never Has Been.
When the stakes are high … when there is a real threat … should staying silent even be an option?
The Scorching Truth: Extreme Heat is a Wake-Up Call to Act on Climate Change
Are you one of the more than 100 million Americans who live somewhere that was (or still is) under a heat advisory?
On Juneteenth Let Us Remember, Racial Terror Did Not End with Slavery
When Terence Crutcher, a father of four who sang in his church choir, was shot and killed by the police in 2016 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his twin sister Dr. Tiffany Crutcher saw history repeating itself.
Carbon Pipelines are a Bad Deal (For Everyone Who Is Not Getting Rich from Them)
A small handful of Iowa senators continue to block a bill virtually everyone in the state agrees on. Follow the money.
“Isn’t it sad that money controls everything?” That is what Kim Junker says, as she laments the iron grip wealthy pipeline interests seem to have over some of Iowa’s most powerful lawmakers. What she is referring to is a years-long fight against a massive carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline project planned to run through the state.
Nature is For ALL of Us
Black people face enough barriers to enjoying the outdoors. Self-defeating stereotypes should not be one of them.
When Rodney Smith’s uncle invited him to go to Sedona for a hike, Rodney, who is Black, said to himself, “Hiking? That sounds like something white people do.” Rodney went on the hike. And it changed his life.
How Clean Energy Naysayers Help China and Hurt American Workers
Electric vehicles (EVs) are the future of transportation. As a driver of an (American-made) electric vehicle myself, I know firsthand the amount of money I have already saved compared to when I drove the gas-powered version of the same model. And that is before considering the benefit to our air quality, the climate, and how fun it is to drive.
For an Antidote to Climate Despair, Look to the Impact of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
Did you hear the birds singing outside this morning? A lot of us take that common sound of nature for granted. Most people these days do not realize how close we came to living in a much quieter world; to the widespread destruction of entire ecosystems and some of our most iconic species.
Rorcing Polluters to Clean Up Their Mess Means New Hope for Communities
In Waukegan, Illinois, about 40 miles north of Chicago, Dulce Ortiz is celebrating with her children.
Forcing Polluters to Clean Up Their Mess Means New Hope for Communities
In Waukegan, Illinois, about 40 miles north of Chicago, Dulce Ortiz is celebrating with her children.
Reclaiming “Tree Hugger”
Most people think of “tree hugger” as a casual insult for a certain kind of environmentalist. The term actually has a proud history. It is time to take it back.
Investing in Tomorrow: Clean Energy as the Path to Prosperity for All
On Earth Day 1993, I delivered the first major speech of my life. It was in New York City’s Bryant Park, kicking off a nationwide tour to rally opposition to the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Highway Robbery in Alabama
Imagine the neighborhood your family has lived in for more than 150 years being turned into a deteriorating flood zone. Now imagine the flooding was caused by the state. That is what is happening to the people of Elba, Alabama’s historic Black Shiloh community.
Whales Are Dying and the Fossil Fuel Industry is Lying
Whoever would have thought fossil fuel industry front groups would make whales and other marine species a cultural wedge issue? However, thanks to a deception campaign targeting wind energy that’s exactly where we find ourselves.
Biden’s Walk Can Beat Trump’s Talk with the Working Class, But He Needs to Speak Up
Spoiler alert! Donald Trump will be allowed to remain on the ballot this fall.
Setting the Record Straight on an Important Piece of Black History
With the start of Black History Month, I brace myself for the mis-telling of Black History yet again.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s LNG Decision is the Hope Young People Have Been Waiting For
James Hiatt lives in an area along the Mississippi River in Louisiana that has been dubbed “Cancer Alley.” Teeming with chemical plants and oil and gas refineries, the air the residents of this area breathe contains more carcinogens than anywhere else in the country.
Power Grids Supplied By Clean Energy Are More Reliable. That Saves Lives
February, 2021. A rare Valentines Day winter storm wallops Texas with snow and a deep freeze.
In the Gap Between January 6 and MLK Day, Once Forbidden History Offers Hope
Even Ron DeSantis had to admit, when pressed at a CNN townhall, January 6 was a bad day for America.
America’s Unspoken Suicide Pandemic is the Sharp Edge of Social Isolation
The news stays filled with endless examples of hyper-partisanship out of Washington. It is no surprise most people think that’s the only thing happening in Washington. It’s not.
The Story of the Orcas and the Salmon, On the Endangered Species Act's 50th Birthday
Thanks to 20th century aquariums and marine theme parks, orcas – also known as killer whales – are the most iconic whales in America. When the public learned their captivity involved torture, orca shows disappeared from those parks, as they should have. Now there are signs that certain groups of orcas could disappear entirely.
Common Grounds Is a Testament to the Power of Film to Change Hearts and Minds
Soil. It’s where our food comes from and the foundation of all life on land.
How the Clean Energy Win in Michigan Provides a Roadmap for Other States
The historic Clean Energy Future Package and Clean Energy and Jobs Act, just recently signed into law by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, will greatly accelerate the state’s transition to the exclusive use of clean power sources like wind and solar.
Overcoming the Oil and Gas Industry's Influence at COP28
Last Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
For Too Many Kids Getting Outside Is Easier Said Than Done
Last week, after a restful Thanksgiving, my family made a deliberate choice to #OptOutside on Friday. #OptOutside is a growing movement in which participating organizations and companies close their doors on Black Friday, give their employees a paid day off, and encourage all of us to embrace the serenity of nature instead of succumbing to the frenzy of Black Friday shopping. I’m an outdoors enthusiast, from a long line of outdoors enthusiasts.
Environmental Sacrifice Zones Can Be Beacons of Clean Energy Investment
Lower Richland County, South Carolina is a place with rich history. The region, which sits on wetlands and a floodplain forest fed by the Congaree River, was an established agricultural center dating back more than 300 years. It’s home to Congaree National Park and other important sites that are central to the experiences of the African Americans and Indigenous people who have lived on the land over the centuries.
Voters Spoke: Climate Action is Here to Stay
This month’s election results should be a wakeup call to any politician who had been unsure of Americans’ desire for robust climate action and support for a green economy. In states and counties that are red, blue, and everywhere in between, voters favored forward-looking candidates who embraced both the need for and the economic benefits of aggressive climate action.
Making Connections That Can Help Save the Planet
If we’re going to realize the climate benefits of historic federal support for clean energy and jobs approved in the last two years, connections are the key. And I’m not just talking about electrifying homes and buildings.
Steel Mills Can Steal from the Least Powerful
U.S. Steel gave birth to Gary, Indiana in 1906. The city, named after a chairman of the corporation’s board, started as housing for steelworkers. The Gary Works opened in 1908 and for most of the 20th century was the largest steel mill in the world; it’s still the largest in this country.
The Dirty Truth about Utility Companies’ Clean Energy Efforts
Imagine telling your boss that you’ll complete less than half of the work that’s needed, getting almost nothing done over 12 months, then asking for a raise.
Protecting Their Dream Homes from a Fracking Nightmare
Forever home. That’s how folks from Aurora I met last week describe the houses they bought outside Denver. Now those dream homes are caught in what may be America's most dire urban fracking nightmare.
Cutting Tailpipe Pollution Starts at Home for New York City
For Leslie Vasquez, an activist with South Bronx Unite, the same word describes the need and the timeline for New York City to act on climate pollution -- immediate.
Having Our Say Against Carbon Pollution
More than one million Americans told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week that they aren’t willing to wait any longer.
Unlikely Allies and Uncomfortably Large Coalitions
“Spend your energy figuring out what’s the one thing that you can agree on with a political foe,” Gen. Colin Powell told me years ago. “Figure that out and you can get a lot done.”
Bold Leadership and Historic Investment are Launching Climate Renewal
The last Apollo mission launched a few weeks before I was born. I grew up hearing people describe an audacious goal as a “moonshot.”
Good Jobs Will Come from a Cleaner EconomyGood Jobs Will Come from a Cleaner Economy
I traveled recently from Baltimore, the city where my mother grew up, to Portland, Maine, where my dad did. It’s easy for many to see differences between one of the Blackest cities in America and largest city in one of the whitest states in the country.
A Historic Vote and the Tools It Gave Us
Vice President Kamala Harris is sure to be remembered every March in Women’s History Month as the first woman and the first person of color to serve our nation in that position. As notable as those two facts are, she may grow to be known just as much for a single vote in the Senate that helped save the planet.
It Shouldn't Take a Fiery Crash and Toxic Spill to Push Action on Railroad Safety
People around East Palestine, Ohio, have been warned not to run their vacuum cleaners.
Taking on the Symptom that is Gun Violence and the Disease Behind It
We’ve had more mass shootings this year than we’ve had days this year.
Milestones Show Us Where We’ve Come From, Where We Need to Go
Two things happened last week — one public, the other personal — that made me reflect on how far we’ve come as a nation, how we got here, and what it will take to keep that journey moving forward.
One Nation, Indivisble
It strikes me that the days we’re living through represent a metaphor for our national dilemma. January 6th and the weight of history that date carries are in the rearview mirror, at least on the calendar. Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream still is on the horizon.
Far-Right School Board Candidates: “We’ll Be Back”
Back in August, I wrote that getting “back-to-school” this year would also mean getting back to fighting far-right attacks on education. The threats included a rising number of efforts to ban books, and the Right’s efforts to take over local school boards.
Seven Top Takeaways from this Year’s Midterms
As the dust settles on the midterm elections and the warnings of a “Red Wave” evaporate, it’s time to take a deep breath and take stock of what we’ve learned. There are many takeaways from the elections this year – and here are a few that top the list for me.
Seven Top Takeaways from this Year’s Midterms
As the dust settles on the midterm elections and the warnings of a “Red Wave” evaporate, it’s time to take a deep breath and take stock of what we’ve learned. There are many takeaways from the elections this year – and here are a few that top the list for me.
Tell the Supreme Court: We Still Need Affirmative Action
One of the great joys of my life is teaching. I’m fortunate to teach classes on social justice at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the most respected schools in the country. Penn has a longstanding commitment to affirmative action, and I have seen first-hand how diversity in the classroom benefits all my students. There’s just no question that diversity is a core piece of a vibrant academic community and a critical part of the learning experience – for all of us. Bringing together students with different lived experiences forces students to think critically about their assumptions, which is an essential goal of a university education.
Artists Help Capture Our Political Chaos
Art can be a powerful tool for social change. Sometimes that threatens people in power.
Modeling the Spirit of Democracy
Some things are unthinkable—until they happen. For Jamie Raskin, a congressman and father, the first unthinkable thing was the loss of his beloved son Tommy to suicide on New Year’s Eve 2020. As a father myself, my heart breaks when I imagine the grief experienced by Raskin and his family.
This November, Unite to Defend The Black Vote
Right before our last national elections in 2020, thousands of Black voters in Detroit got a call from someone posing as a woman named “Tamika Taylor.” She warned them that if they voted, the government would collect their personal information and come after them for credit card debt, outstanding warrants, even forced vaccinations. The calls were a voter suppression scam, and the two white guys behind it were prosecuted. But we’ll never know how many people were nervous enough to avoid voting that year.
Black Women Holding Trump Accountable
Former President Donald Trump has spent a lifetime getting away with things. Rich and willing to use an army of lawyers to defend his abuses and bully people he has wronged into submission, Trump is a prime example of the inequities in our justice system.
Book Bans Are an Attack on the Freedom to Read, Teach and Learn
Truth is a threat to authoritarianism. Reading is a path to truth. That’s why the freedom to read is essential to the freedom to learn. And that’s why the freedom to learn is often attacked by those who abuse power and those who cling to it.
Accountability: An Insurrectionist Removed From Office
A New Mexico judge has done the country a big favor. Judge Francis Mathew upheld a little-known provision of the U.S. Constitution and removed a public official for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. I hope other judges have the courage to follow his lead.
Student Debt Relief Means Freedom for Millions
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” I love that sentiment. I also know that when student loan debt is tying you down, changing the world can feel out of reach.
