From Futurism · Joe Wilkins · · 1m 10s
Prisons are becoming deadly heat traps
As climate change intensifies, incarcerated people face extreme temperatures with little protection or relief.
In brief
As climate change intensifies, incarcerated people face extreme temperatures with little protection or relief. Prisons lack basic cooling infrastructure, and governments are slow to act despite heat-related deaths and suffering. Originally reported by Futurism.
Climate catastrophe is here
The UN now expects global warming to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, bringing mass displacement, economic disruption, and biodiversity loss.
Prisons turning into heat chambers
In Italy, temperatures inside prison cells regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit because detention centers lack air conditioning, fans, or proper ventilation.
“temperatures inside prison cells across the Italian peninsula have regularly exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit”
Italy's prisons are dangerously overcrowded
Italy holds nearly 65,000 inmates in facilities designed for 47,000, straining systems already broken by extreme heat.
Italy refuses to install air conditioning
Italy's penitentiary administration head admitted in July that air conditioning isn't even being considered for the country's prisons.
“air conditioning isn't even "being considered" for the country's prisons”
Texas ordered to cool its prisons
A federal judge ruled that Texas prisons' lack of air conditioning is cruel and unusual punishment, ordering installation by 2029 after at least 33 heat-related deaths since 1998.
“the current lack of air conditioning constitutes cruel and unusual punishment”
Heat deaths will worsen with climate change
As record-breaking summer heat becomes the norm, incarcerated people face increasing danger with no guarantee that mandated cooling will arrive in time.
The one thing
Prisons lack basic cooling infrastructure, and governments are slow to act despite heat-related deaths and suffering.
