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Articles by

Jessica Kutz

Gender, climate and sustainability reporter (She/Her)

I’m Jessica Kutz, The 19th’s climate and gender reporter. I got into journalism at 26 after walking into a small local paper and asking for an internship. It quickly spiraled into a staff job and I won three Colorado Press Association awards during my time there. I next sharpened my skills at High Country News, where I wrote and edited stories about environmental and social justice for four years.

I have a degree in international affairs and once thought I might work at an NGO to solve some big world problems. I quickly learned there is rarely a simple or even ethical solution that comes from that line of thinking. I had, however, seen the role journalism could play to better inform policy, expose wrongdoing and center the people closest to the solutions. I love to write stories about those who advocate for their communities, and whose identities have shaped how they view and tackle injustice, particularly in the face of the climate crisis. Often, I find, these people are women.

I’ve been republished in many outlets including The Atlantic, PBS Newshour, The Guardian, Vox, Grist and Mother Jones. I was a finalist for a Covering Climate Now award in 2023. When I’m not writing, I’m gardening, biking, hiking or watching my cat Lou be cute when she’s sleeping.

My work is free to consume and free to republish because of contributions from readers like you. A donation of $19 goes a long way toward sustaining our nonprofit newsroom.

Latest from Jessica Kutz

This student was overwhelmed by ‘alarmist’ environmental education. So she designed her own college course.

Sage Lenier’s sustainability course at UC Berkeley focuses on solutions. Now she’s launching a nonprofit to equip students with the knowledge to help solve the climate crisis.

Jessica Kutz · February 24, 2023
Mothers of the movement: Black environmental justice activists reflect on the women who have paved the way

Described as “the backbone of the environmental justice movement,” these women pioneered the work to protect communities.

Daja E. Henry, Jessica Kutz · February 17, 2023
Can women help fill the shortage of trade workers? Unions are betting on it.

But with only about 2 percent of tradespersons identifying as women, recruitment and retention initiatives by unions are just scratching the surface.

Jessica Kutz · February 9, 2023
She grew up under water boil advisories in Jackson. Now she’s bringing environmental justice to the EPA.

In her community outreach role for the EPA, Rosemary Enobakhare is working to prioritize communities in need while “shining a light” on issues affecting them most.

Jessica Kutz · February 6, 2023
Firefighters’ careers could be impacting their reproductive health

High temperatures, stress and the ‘forever chemicals’ firefighters are exposed to could be factors in pregnancy and fertility complications, new research shows.

Jessica Kutz · January 24, 2023
Gas stoves are linked to childhood asthma — and advocates want them out of public housing

A new study bolsters evidence for advocates who are urging HUD to electrify cooktops in its housing, where 75 percent of households are woman-led.

Jessica Kutz · January 10, 2023
Why it matters that the diversity report card for environmental organizations doesn’t track gender

Green 2.0 said it didn’t have enough data for a meaningful analysis on gender, making it difficult to tell if strides are being made toward diversifying the NGOs’ workforces.

Jessica Kutz · December 19, 2022
Working in extreme heat is risky for pregnant workers. Advocates say passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act could help.

But time is running out to pass the legislation before the new congressional term starts.

Jessica Kutz · November 28, 2022
Representation, protection, restitution: Women lay out key demands at COP27 climate summit

Women are disproportionately impacted by climate change, but are also left out of decision-making. This year’s UN summit attendees are working to change that.

Jessica Kutz · November 15, 2022
Groups urge moms to vote with climate change in mind

Groups in key states are targeting moms — particularly Latina moms — in their get-out-the-vote efforts centered around climate change.

Jessica Kutz · November 7, 2022

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Articles by

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