Jesse Jackson and the campaign for climate justice

Plus, Octopus is expanding to California, thanks to a political deal between Britain's energy secretary and Golden State Gov. Gavin Newsom

In today’s edition:

— Jesse Jackson spent his life fighting for justice, including climate justice

— California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest green deal is a boon for British renewable giant Octopus

— Our history is recorded in the ice

— Harmful south L.A. leaking gas wells plugged permanently

— It started with Bakelite. Now plastic really is everywhere

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. speaking at a rally in Madison, Wisc., 2011. Photo: Peter Gorman/flickr.

It was fitting that the Rev. Jesse Jackson passed away during Black History Month, the annual celebration of black contributions to America that he championed for 50 years since President Gerald Ford officially recognized it in 1976. Jackson spent his life campaigning, including for ways to fight climate change.

The battle for climate justice, helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate change by removing or better regulating the factories and manufacturing plants often located nearby, was one of his favorite subjects. But it has always been a second cousin to the battle for decarbonization, or net zero. In the past year, it has faded even more as the White House seeks to restart coal plants and deregulate any sort of manufacturing in the name of energy security.

It’s a classic fight Jesse would have relished if he’d been younger. I was lucky enough to get to know Jesse when I was editor of USA Today a decade ago. He’d call me directly once every few weeks, railing against the latest injustices in the headlines. He helped us campaign for more minority representation in Silicon Valley, an issue that has completely faded with the attacks on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), and the rush to profit from AI. He would still be campaigning if he could.

For Jesse, the fight against climate change was simply another battle to correct an injustice. His was a different existential battle; but the issues overlapped, as we find is happening more and more with climate change. He was the last civil rights leader, leaving us at a time when civil rights are under their greatest threats in decades.

His passing, and the headlines and tributes they will create this week, are an important reminder that every freedom we have, including the right to live with clean air and water, needs to be fought for every day. If only climate justice had that type of fighter today. So long, Jesse. I miss our phone calls.

If you have ideas or suggestions for us, contact me directly at
dcallaway@callawayclimateinsights.com.

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Tuesday’s subscriber insight

A second crack at U.S. green markets for UK's Octopus