Environmental/Climate Justice

The Federal Funding Primer on Climate Justice

This Federal Funding Primer on Climate Justice provides an invaluable roadmap for navigating the maze of funding opportunities provided by Justice40, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The Justice40 Initiative is a requirement of Executive Order 14008 and mandates that 40 percent of the benefits from environmental and climate justice related federal investments go to communities that are disadvantaged, underserved, or overburdened by pollution.

Unlocking Clean Energy Incentives for Underserved Communities

The Inflation Reduction Act provides an unprecedented opportunity to foster more equitable participation in clean energy development and channel resources into historically marginalized communities. Because of the IRA’s Direct Pay provision, nonprofits, and state, local, and Tribal governments can now access tax credits over 10 years for clean energy projects in underserved communities. This democratizes energy, unlocking the potential for diverse entities across the U.S. to own clean energy assets as a wealth-building opportunity.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Best Practices for Equity And Governance

Environmental justice communities can be meaningfully centered and empowered within the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program. Prioritize direct benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities. Community engagement should be incorporated throughout awardees’ operations, including in their overall governance structure and business plan. Create accountability to local and impacted communities, especially low-income and disadvantaged communities. Operate with transparency, which is a prerequisite for accountability, and helps to build trust with communities and other stakeholders.

Just Infrastructure

This website is a celebration of Just Infrastructure projects taking root as federal water dollars flow. It is also a storytelling resource for those pushing for equitable spending and future funding. For example, from urban greening in New Orleans and Chicago to drought preparedness in the San Joaquin Valley and the Navajo Nation, federal funding and local organizing are laying the groundwork for a just and resilient water future. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act together include more than $60 billion for water projects.

On the Frontlines of the Climate Emergency: Where Immigrants Meet Climate Change

Philanthropic investment at the nexus of the climate and immigrant justice movements would help build a healthy and collaborative ecosystem across movements. Moreover, it is both a moral and strategic priority. This kind of philanthropic investment can enable forward planning of safe pathways for people who lose their homes; protections and opportunities for workers and communities who are striving to build resilience; and the power to win and implement urgent, equitable, and effective responses to climate challenges. This report urges philanthropists to pursue three strategies.

Connecting Climate Justice & Migrant Justice: A Guide to Countering Dangerous Narratives

Communicate about climate-linked migration through justice-based framing to counter dangerous anti-migrant narratives. Dangerous narratives use fear- or threat-based language or framing of migrants in an attempt to accelerate climate action, while scapegoating the most vulnerable people. Use these principles to frame climate and migration. Lead with values: Humans have always moved for safety. Name the villain: Talk about how governments and corporations are profiting from abuse against migrants and refugee. Share the vision: Articulate the right to stay and the right to move.

Environmental Polling Roundup - January 19th, 2024

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including a new analysis of the impact of voters’ climate attitudes on the 2020 presidential election results, new polling on electric vehicles, new polling on competitiveness with China on clean energy, and a new analysis of climate justice attitudes across Yale and George Mason’s “Six Americas” segments.

Support for climate justice across Global Warming’s Six Americas

Support for climate justice and recognition of climate disparities vary widely across global warming’s “Six Americas”. More climate-conscious Americans are both much more likely to recognize existing climate disparities and much more likely to support the goals of climate justice than Americans who are less concerned about global warming. However, even among the segments who are most attuned to the issue of climate change, most are not hearing about “climate justice” as a concept. The Alarmed and Concerned segments (who make up 56% of the U.S.

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