Climate Change & Abbott’s Failing Infrastructure Demand Action
HOUSTON, TX – In the wake of devastating storms that tore through Houston earlier this month, resulting in tragic deaths and leaving over a million residents without power for days in devastating heat, Texas Organizing Project (TOP) calls for urgent action to address the impacts of climate change and the vulnerabilities of our state’s power grid. These severe weather events disproportionately affect our Black and Latino communities, where there are less resources to aid the disaster recovery process. While TOP is on the ground helping with the recovery and organizing toward more sustainable energy policies, Trump was in Houston last week holding a fundraiser with big oil executives whose companies have in part driven the climate crisis causing increased extreme weather like this month’s devastating storm.
Brianna Brown, TOP Co-Executive Director shared: “The devastating impact of these Houston storms highlights the urgent need for comprehensive climate action and infrastructure reform. Climate change is not a distant threat; it’s here and now, and it’s hitting our communities the hardest. Black and Latino families across Houston are bearing the brunt of these extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe from climate change. The prolonged power outages turn the recovery period from a single storm into weeks and months. The way forward is clear: we must vote out Governor Abbott and his far-right, MAGA extremists allies at both the local and state levels. Our power lies at the ballot box.”
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis emphasized the need for systemic change: “The deadly storms that struck Houston are a stark reminder of the urgent need to overhaul our energy infrastructure. The ERCOT grid once again failed our communities. We need a resilient and equitable energy system that can withstand extreme weather and ensure the safety and well-being of all Texans, especially those in Black and Latino neighborhoods. The recovery process will be long and challenging, and we must focus on building a more robust system for the future.”
TOP stands with the families affected by this tragedy and calls on state and local leaders to prioritize policies that address climate change, strengthen our energy infrastructure, and protect our most vulnerable communities. We must move away from short-term fixes and invest in long-term solutions that ensure all Texans can weather the storms ahead.
Our voices will not be silenced, and our movement will not be stopped. Black and Latino Texans are determined to build the collective power necessary to create a future where ALL Texans can live free and thrive — regardless of race, faith, gender, or background.
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About Texas Organizing Project:
TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.