The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) enacted last fall included billions for climate action and environmental justice. This includes investments in the electric grid, building efficiency, electric school buses, electric charging infrastructure, safe and reliable drinking water, and technical and natural carbon dioxide removal. These overdue investments will help grow the economy, create millions of good-paying jobs, improve public health, and address inequities that have plagued communities for far too long.

To maximize the benefits of these investments, it is critical federal, state and local governments ensure programs are designed to deliver funding and associated projects in an equitable manner that advances racial, economic, and environmental justice. While the BIL allocates and prioritizes spending in underserved communities, and the Biden administration has prioritized a whole-of-government approach to ensure 40% of benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy reach disadvantaged communities through its Justice40 initiative, many challenges remain in equitably implementing these infrastructure investments. Existing and longstanding social and economic inequities result in climate change disproportionally endangering those who are least responsible for it. Fully, effectively, and responsibly addressing the climate crisis requires policies and investments that don’t just reduce emissions, but also support a more just and participatory energy system in the U.S.

How can the federal government ensure the climate-smart investments reach communities that are currently, and have historically been, discriminated against, under-resourced and marginalized? What tools and resources are available for state and local policymakers and stakeholders in developing programs that address inequities in the clean energy sector? How can we empower and support local communities and community leaders to drive the implementation process?

Join World Resources Institute on March 1 for a dynamic discussion with national and local leaders from the environmental justice community and clean energy experts about how to ensure the infrastructure investments are implemented in an equitable, effective and timely manner.

Speakers

• Carla Walker, Director, Environmental Justice and Equity, United States, World Resources Institute (Moderator)
• Ean Thomas Tafoya, Colorado State Director, GreenLatinos
• Brenda Coley, Co-Executive Director, Milwaukee Water Commons
• Dan Lashof, Director, United States, World Resources Institute