Washington, D.C. — The historic Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act have provided immense support across government entities as they work toward just and effective climate action. A new Center for American Progress report, with Hua Nani Partners, details five key recommendations to assist states, local governments, federal agencies, and other interested parties in advancing climate leadership.
These recommendations include:
- Build state and local climate capacity for the long haul: State and local governments need more staff and cross-agency coordination to help them implement most effectively.
- Enhance technical assistance infrastructure: Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and philanthropic organizations should help provide more and better technical assistance to state and local agencies.
- Maximize federal investments with complementary policies and consumer awareness: State and local governments can maximize federal investments through complementary policymaking and by helping to raise consumer awareness of available opportunities.
- Address equity gaps, workforce needs, and siting and permitting barriers: Effective and equitable implementation means state and local governments should prioritize investment in disadvantaged communities, support good jobs, and address challenges in siting and permitting.
- Raise ambition with the next generation of U.S. climate policy leadership: State and local governments must maximize the effect of the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and use them to lead the next generation of ambitious climate policy.
“The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allows state and local governments to receive and leverage hundreds of billions—perhaps trillions—of dollars in new federal climate investments and unlock even greater private sector investment,” said Kacey Clayton, campaign manager for the State-Federal Climate Initiative at CAP and co-author of the report. “Through continued dedication to addressing gaps and committing to leadership on climate action, state, local and federal leaders can together chart the course for the future of equitable, enduring climate action that ensures all communities have clean air to breathe and share the benefits of a clean energy economy.
Read the report: “Implementing America’s Clean Energy Future” by Sam Ricketts, Chris Bast, Hannah Argento-McCurdy, Elisia Hoffman, Nate Fowler, and Kacey Clayton
Read the fact sheet: “Fact Sheet: Implementing America’s Clean Energy Future: Leveraging Federal Investments To Support State and Local Climate Leadership”
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].