The climate crisis isn’t in the distant future. For decades, fossil fuel pollution has ravaged the most marginalized neighborhoods, from pollution to escalating weather events. Any investment in averting the climate crisis must prioritize those communities.
What is Justice40?
Last year the Biden administration launched a government-wide Justice40 Initiative with a goal to deliver 40% of the benefits of federal climate change-related investments to disadvantaged communities. This is an unprecedented opportunity to invest in largely Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities that have been disproportionately harmed by climate change and longstanding environmental injustices. The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool will help the Biden administration identify and direct investments to Justice40 communities.
What is IIJA?
In November 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) into law, which will put $1.2 trillion into communities over the next decade. There are billions of dollars that states and local governments can access for programs in clean energy, clean transportation, green buildings, workforce development, grid and transmissions updates, recycling, and clean water.
The IIJA was not designed to achieve the Biden administration’s climate commitments, but it does provide funding for programs that can help reduce pollution and prepare communities to be resilient against climate impacts. The IIJA will be the Biden administration’s first test at directing investments to disadvantaged communities.
What’s at Stake?
State and local governments will be in control of the majority of IIJA funds, which could lead to huge benefits for communities by upgrading infrastructure and directly reducing pollution. But without deep engagement from communities the IIJA funds could be invested into programs that would solidify our reliance on fossil fuels. Local governments, states, Tribes and territories must be prepared to apply for IIJA funds and invest them in projects that will support and protect the most vulnerable communities.
The programs listed below will help reduce the impacts of climate change while supporting communities through the Justice40 Initiative goal to provide 40% of climate and clean energy related investments to disadvantaged communities.