During Climate Week actions in New York City, Sept. 20–27, tens of thousands of activists, community organizers, scientists, government officials and business leaders participated in more than 1,500 events, coinciding with the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Climate activists took to the streets demanding urgent action to address the climate crisis, while challenging fossil-fuel expansion, corporate greenwashing and the rapidly growing energy and water demands of AI data centers.
Protesters targeted major technology companies including OpenAI, Google and Amazon, underscoring activists’ argument that the promise of technological innovation and corporate climate pledges must be matched by concrete reductions in fossil-fuel use and greenhouse-gas emissions.
A rally outside New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Manhattan office opposed her support for building new nuclear power plants in the state to address surging demand from AI data centers and other energy-hungry projects. One of the rally speakers was Kimberly Scott, executive director of Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions Education Fund. Between The Lines’ Melinda Tuhus was there and spoke with Scott, who describes Georgia as ground zero for recent nuclear power development with all its attendant harms, and what her group is doing to help utility ratepayers cope.
For more information, visit Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions Education Fund at gawand.org.
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