The Texas Drought Project was born out of efforts by the Texas Climate Emergency Campaign to facilitate passage of the Waxman-Markey bill on climate change in 2008-2009. Its co-founders, Jere Locke and Alyssa Burgin, came to the conclusion that many Texans were not yet willing to attach the words “climate change” to what was happening in Texas, but they understood intrinsically that, as one citrus farmer remarked, “things were changing” in Texas climate, weather and most certainly, rainfall patterns.
Thus was formed the Texas Drought Project in June of 2009. Since that time the project has contributed much to the education of Texans—and others—on climate change and a number of large projects.
Some of our recent large projects include the following:
2021- While still pushing for and educating on the subjects of a Green New Deal, the Build Back Better plan, and COP26 in Glasgow, we are also working on global vaccination, along with local and regional environmental issues.
2019-2020 – Our main focus was been working to form strong, diverse coalitions across Texas to congressional support for the Green New Deal. Three of the congressional districts are in the Dallas Metroplex, four in Houston, one in El Paso and two in the Rio Grande Valley. Meetings with members of Congress as well as fellow activists have been constructive.
2018 – We conducted a campaign to place two planks into the Texas Democratic Party—beginning as resolutions—one to ban fracking and the second, a ban on fossil-fuel donations. The ban on fracking passed in over 90% of the Senate District or County conventions in which it was voted on and the ban on fossil-fuel donations passed in 60% of the local conventions. They faced nasty opposition at the State Convention from fossil-fuel advocates within the Party, but we came very close. And we’re not backing down.
2017 – Together with other groups we pushed the City Council to adopt a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030. Our primary contribution was the efforts of 11 phone bankers/night for 9 nights, resulting in a turnout of over 300 supporters. The City Council didn’t vote for our goal but we will rise to fight again.
2016 – Thanks to over 100 committed volunteers, 65+% of the delegates to the Texas Democratic Convention signed another strong resolution. This was achieved in just eight hours and despite very active opposition.
2015 – With the help of over 1000 people, we obtained the signatures of 228 Texas organizations for a strongly-worded resolution supporting bold, swift action at the Paris Climate Conference. These organizations included five labor unions, the Lone Star Sierra Club and all the Texas big green groups, the Texas Farmers Union, several Stonewall Democrats chapters, many faith organizations and others. These resolutions were taken to the Paris UN Climate Conference by friends.
Jere Locke
Originally from Houston, Jere was a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya and the former director of the Texas Fair Trade Coalition. He attended the 2007 Bali UN Climate Conference which led him to do months of research on climate change. As a result, he began a journey from little knowledge on the issue to great concern and the founding of the Texas Drought Project.
He lives in Austin with his family, which includes two sons and two granddaughters, and continues to be concerned about their future–and the future of all the next generations of children.
Alyssa Burgin
Alyssa Burgin grew up in San Antonio, aspiring to a career in science and medicine, but her experience in major political campaigns during college led her to a master’s degree in political communications. She went on to work for both candidates and causes.
In the last 12 years, she’s presented at academic conferences, debated fossil fuel proponents, participated in environmental panels and educated thousands of Texans with knowledgeable insight on drought and climate change.
She currently lives in Rockport, Texas, where she wishes she had time to go sailing with her husband Louis Tanner.
Joshua Wallis
Josh and Jere met in 2015 while co-organizing the Global Climate March Austin ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement. They were both instrumental in networking and assisting the GCMA team in creating a successful event. Josh also helped collect signatures at the Texas Democratic Convention and helps keep the website up-to-date.
Josh lived in Houston until moving to Austin to attend UT and has been here (almost) ever since.