Congress can help us get there by passing critical bills like the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would protect voters from discrimination and voter suppression. By having a democracy that works and has all of our voices represented, we can begin to see real progress on the issues that matter most to us.

On October 15, 2021, Generation Progress and our friends hosted a virtual event where we discussed the ways that bold investments in climate, democracy reform, and voting rights are all deeply connected, and how we can all take action. Watch the recording:

Use the buttons below to join the movement.

The post EVENT: How Fixing Our Broken Democracy Could Get Us Action on Climate Change appeared first on Generation Progress.

, which has already been passed by the Senate, and the Senate"s

, which will set the stage for a budget reconciliation bill. Taken together, these two pieces of legislation represent significant progress on President Joe Biden"s Build Back Better agenda, and–if passed–would provide

at a scale we"ve never seen before.

Young people care about the climate crisis, and have been on the frontlines of fighting for action on this issue from the local level all the way to the federal level. We care about the climate crisis because we, along with Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-income communities, will be impacted the most by its harmful effects. In part because of this, young people turned out in unprecedented numbers in the 2020 election to vote for leaders that will treat the climate crisis with the seriousness it requires. 

Despite broad consensus among scientists and national security experts that the climate crisis is real and poses an extreme threat to the United States, some members of Congress have resisted the critical climate investments put forward in President Biden"s Build Back Better agenda. But Congress can and should look to states for inspiration when enacting ambitious climate policy. Many states and localities have passed legislation that aims to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050 or earlier–a benchmark that scientists say is imperative to addressing the climate crisis. 

Across the country, states have paved the way for progressive and ambitious climate policy. These climate policy wins have come about due to tireless advocacy from community groups, workers, environmental justice activists, and other key stakeholders. The lessons learned from state-level advocacy and policymaking can be a guide for effective federal policy. 

Below are examples from three states that have passed ambitious climate policies, with the goal of drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating good-paying jobs in the sectors of our future. 

Washington

Washington state has been a national leader on progressive climate policy. In May 2019, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) into law. The law requires the state to stop use of all coal-fired power plants by 2025 and transition to carbon-neutral energy by 2030, while transitioning the state to 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2045. By adopting 100 percent clean energy, CETA will create new jobs as new clean energy infrastructure is built. 

CETA also establishes tax incentives to boost clean energy projects that meet certain labor requirements, including procuring contracts from woman- or veteran-owned businesses, hiring locally, and compensating workers fairly (as determined by their collective bargaining agreements). The law also requires that all utilities in the state provide energy assistance to low-income households, which is not limited to just bill reductions, but also includes weatherization, energy efficiency and "direct customer ownership in distributed energy resources," requiring addressing energy burden at 6 percent. Additionally, CETA requires the development of a Cumulative Impact Analysis that will identify communities disproportionately burdened by multiple sources of pollution, and requires that the benefits of the Act are distributed equitably. CETA also requires utilities to work with community boards, which are required to include representatives from impacted communities, to develop plans, provide oversight, and ensure transparency. It is also important to note that the law states that all customers, "benefit from the equitable distribution of energy benefits and reduction of burdens to vulnerable populations and highly impacted communities," which is critical for the implementation of environmental justice.

More recently, Gov. Inslee signed the HEAL Act into law, which will prioritize environmental justice by requiring state agencies to consider the impacts of their work on frontline communities, including both harms and benefits, as well as create an environmental justice council to collaborate with these agencies on their environmental justice priorities.

New York

In New York, the state legislature passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which became law in July 2019. The bill directs the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, with the remaining 15 percent to be offset by other methods. It also requires that the state gets 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2040. In addition to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, CLCPA enhances labor standards and worker protections, ensuring that these jobs are not only safe, but also pay a good wage. 

CLCPA"s passage was predicated on the passage of a separate environmental justice bill, New York State Senate Bill S2385, which created a permanent environmental justice advisory group that will ensure the actions of state agencies will not disproportionately burden any communities with pollution. CLCPA recognizes that frontline communities are the most impacted by climate change, and advances environmental justice in the state by requiring that these communities receive at least 35 percent of all investment benefits in clean energy. Environmental justice groups in the state celebrated the bill, but acknowledged that it is not perfect.

New Mexico

In March 2019, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed New Mexico"s Energy Transition Act (ETA) into law. It transitions New Mexico away from fossil fuels through interim targets, requiring that 50 percent of the state"s electricity is renewable by 2030, 80 percent renewable by 2040, and 100 percent renewable by 2045. The ETA provides workforce support for communities that will be directly impacted by this transition away from fossil fuels by training workers for the construction and development of renewable energy infrastructure. The law also provides better protections to consumers and economic relief to the communities that will be impacted by the closure of coal-fired power plants.

The good news is that the Biden administration has already incorporated a lot of the solutions above into its strategies for addressing the climate crisis. Environmental justice, job creation, and transitioning to clean energy feature prominently in the administration"s Build Back Better policies. However, now it is time for Congress to act.

This is why it is up to Congress to follow the example set by these three states and make significant investments in climate on the federal level. The planet and our communities can"t wait any longer. 

The post Congress Could Learn A Few Things About Climate Action From These States appeared first on Generation Progress.

funny. The problem is, I can"t even joke about it. Every summer, I get a case of climate anxiety that would make the most seasoned therapist cringe. My evening dog walk inevitably spirals into doomsday scenarios, panicking over rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and the rising urgency of our situation.

we"re done for.

Climate anxiety, at the most basic level, is the fear many of us feel regarding the looming problem of climate change. It"s more than simple concern, though–it"s a feeling of horror and apprehension as we attempt to grapple with an existential threat far larger than anything our minds are equipped to handle. Climate anxiety is a natural response to the helplessness that many people, especially our generation, feel as we watch our planet burn.

To a certain extent, climate anxiety is a rational response. We"re in a terrible situation that"s only getting worse.  Earlier this month, the UN published a report warning that we are likely to overshoot the 1.5 degree Celsius tipping point that major climate initiatives like the Paris agreement hoped to prevent. We"re already seeing the effects: 9.8 million people were displaced because of climate change in the first half of 2020. And those are just the statistics. We don"t need numbers to know that the recent heatwave in the Pacific Northwest wasn"t normal. The deep freeze in Texas this year wasn"t normal. California"s 2020 wildfire season, the worst ever recorded, was not normal. The climate crisis isn"t coming–it"s already here. 

But it"s important to find ways not to give into climate anxiety.  Climate anxiety can have a serious impact on our mental health–we all have enough to worry about without a massive existential threat on the horizon, and the psychological impact of climate change is well-documented. Even worse, it can be an all-too-easy to slip from anxiety to despair. It"s tempting to say that it"s already too late. It"s easy to give up and let ourselves finally relax. But climate despair isn"t the answer. If we give up now, we give up any chance we do have at saving ourselves. Climate despair is the ultimate failure.

Just like with any type of fear, the solution to climate anxiety is to take action. We have to prove to ourselves that we"re not helpless. Luckily, we"re not alone. All over the U.S., people are coming together to stop climate change before it"s too late, and our generation is leading the way. This June, youth climate justice organization the Sunrise Movement marched 400 miles to first occupy Senator Ted Cruz"s lawn, and then protest outside the White House. Their demands? Immediate action from the Democratic Party, a meeting with President Biden, and full funding for the Civilian Climate Corps, a program that would employ over 1.5 million Americans in jobs fighting climate change. Youth climate justice group Zero Hour is currently working to educate communities across the country about the intersections of climate injustice with racism, sexism, capitalism, and colonialism in hopes of building support for the Green New Deal. The climate justice movement is young and rising. We know what it will take to solve the climate crisis.

And the best part? We"re winning. This January, climate activists convinced President Biden to revoke a key permit from the Keystone XL oil pipeline, halting construction and eventually leading to the project"s recent shutdown. This April, New York passed legislation setting a goal to conserve at least 30 percent of land in the state by 2030, helping to protect biodiversity. And in June, Oregon passed a bill to eliminate emissions from power suppliers by 2040. Young people are pressuring elected officials to make the right choices about our future, and it"s working. 

It"s easy to feel discouraged when bad news keeps coming in. Most of the discussion around climate justice focuses on just how many ways climate change can kill us all. But we can"t give up now. There are people out there working every day to build a more sustainable future, and they need our help. It"s time to take our climate anxiety and channel that energy into something useful. It"s time to join our generation in the movement for climate justice.

Phoebe Suh is the Generation Progress Summer 2021 intern and a student at Harvard University. 

The post A Letter to Gen Z: It's Time to Put Our Generation's Climate Anxiety to Work appeared first on Generation Progress.

Young people care about the climate crisis. We know that our generations are going to be the most impacted by its devastating effects if urgent action isn"t taken quickly. The cost–in dollars, lives, and resources–of climate inaction far outpaces the cost of taking action now. As of July 9, 2021, National Centers for Environmental Information reports that the costs of extreme weather and natural disasters have cost the U.S. over $8B. It is critical that Congress invest in mitigation and prevention now to deliver on the commitments made in President Biden"s Build Back Better agenda and protect our futures.

Use the buttons below to learn more about the climate crisis and the many issues that intersect with it, and then take action by using our tool to email your elected representatives and demand they take bold action to solve the climate crisis. 

Interested in learning even more? Check out these additional resources from the Generation Progress team:

• The Leslie Marshall Show: Earth Day and the Fight For Environmental Justice
• The Leslie Marshall Show: Getting Out The Facts On Climate Denial
• The Leslie Marshall Show: Wildfires–Climate Change + Criminal Justice Reform
• Weathering the Storm: How Companies Profit off of Natural Disasters and Young People"s Economic Instability
• Yes, You Can Protect The Economy And The Planet

The post TOOLKIT: Take Action to Fight Climate Change Now appeared first on Generation Progress.

As a current college student, I am acutely aware of the many costs associated with getting an education. One of the first things most students and their families consider when weighing their college options is price, including how much they"re being offered in financial aid and scholarships. I live in a single parent household, and am incredibly lucky that my mother has taken on extra jobs and summer work (like the superwoman she is) just so that she could afford to send me to the schools of my choice. 

Over the past few years though, the intensification of extreme weather has been a source of further financial stress for me and my family. We have had to sacrifice some of the money that was meant for my tuition to repair damages to my home caused by thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. At times, I have lost power, lost connection to my classes, have not been able to turn in my assignments on time, have been unable to contact my professors, lost my ability to take my online exams–the list goes on. This has been especially challenging during COVID-19 pandemic, when my classes have shifted online, and my education now depends on reliable electricity and a safe home environment.

Determining effective solutions to large-scale problems like the climate crisis or college affordability and student debt requires understanding how different issues connect and overlap with one another. The issues facing our country don"t exist in siloes, and being impacted by one problem can lead to additional struggles with other–even seemingly unrelated–problems. It is important for policymakers to take an intersectional approach when creating policy because, oftentimes, it isn"t possible to solve one issue without addressing the implications of another. 

Climate change and student debt are two issues that are often not seen as related, but looking at the ways that these issues disproportionately impact the same people and communities can provide insight into the types of solutions that are needed to solve both of them. In order to achieve environmental justice, policymakers must consider that the communities most impacted by the climate crisis are often the same communities that disproportionately struggle with student debt. 

For example, climate change and student debt both disproportionately impact communities of color. When severe weather events occur, air pollution increases, or water is polluted, communities of color, under-resourced communities, and marginalized people are impacted the most. These same communities also are burdened with higher levels of student loan debt and more difficulties repaying that debt than their white counterparts. Black students are more likely to need to borrow, borrow more, and take longer to pay off their loans than white students. On average, Black college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more than their white peers. Four years after graduation, Black college graduates on average accumulate interest such that their balance owed increases by 12.5 percent, whereas white college graduates are likely to have already paid off some debt and have reduced their total balance owed during that same period of time. 

The increase of extreme weather events, such as dangerous heatwaves, freezing temperatures, flooding, and destructive storms, can all be directly linked to human-induced climate change–which means this problem is only getting worse. The average temperature in the United States has been continuously rising since 1901, with the last 30 years showing an increased rate of warming. Eight of the hottest years on record occurred within the last decade. 

The student debt crisis is likewise escalating. One in three young people have taken out loans to afford college, and students and their families collectively hold $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. These individuals and their families are attempting to do what is ultimately impossible for many, financing higher education while staying financially afloat through worsening floods, fires, and droughts. 

In order to end the cycle of climate change and the student debt crisis compounding to cause financial instability for generations of Americans, we need to demand that Congress pass economic recovery legislation with bold climate investments that prioritize the most impacted communities, cancels student debt, and makes college more affordable for students and their families. 

The same communities that have been deprived of the resources and infrastructure necessary to withstand the worst impacts of the climate crisis as a result of systemic racism are often also struggling to afford college for the same reason. President Biden"s Build Back Better agenda would give the country a better chance to build an economy that works for all, while investing in clean energy and infrastructure that protects our communities from pollution and worsening climate change. In addition to the Build Back Better agenda, the administration recently established the Justice 40 initiative, which ensures that 40 percent of all the federal government’s climate investments will go to disadvantaged and over-polluted communities. This initiative codifies environmental justice as a part of each federal agency"s mission.

To make good on President Biden"s commitments in the Build Back Better agenda and the Justice 40 initiative, Congress must fund federal programs that help disadvantaged families with the economic burdens of climate change-induced extreme weather. For example, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides money to families who need assistance with their energy bills, which can spike during periods of extreme heat or cold; and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps medium- and low-income households lower their energy bills by subsidizing energy efficiency technology for their homes. These programs can help people on the frontlines of climate change save money for other important life priorities, like education.

Multiple bills have been introduced in Congress with the aim of reducing or eliminating the cost of tuition and fees at public universities and community colleges, including the Debt-Free College Act, America"s College Promise, and the College for All Act. In addition, President Biden is still exploring his options for canceling some amount of student debt, a promise made during his campaign. 

Racial and economic injustice take many different forms in this country, and racist and unjust policies have resulted in people of color existing on the frontlines of both the climate and student debt crises. It is imperative that the government makes significant investments now to secure environmental and economic justice for all. Our futures, and our families" futures are at stake.

The post Canceling Student Debt Would Help Achieve Environmental Justice appeared first on Generation Progress.

Air pollution refers to the release of solid particles and gases, also known as particulate matter (PM), in the air that are harmful to human health when ingested. Air pollution can come from many sources, including car exhaust,  factory emissions, mold, dust, smoke, and agriculture. 

And it also doesn"t just affect the air outside – air pollution can also be found indoors, including from gas stoves, building materials, and cleaning products.

Fine particulate matter that is less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, known as PM2.5, is the most dangerous type of pollution found in the air, and is responsible for 85,000 to 200,000 deaths per year in the United States. When inhaled, PM exposure has been linked to heart attacks, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, increased respiratory problems (such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing), and premature death. 

The United States has a long history of building power plants, factories, refineries, and highways in communities of color, and when people in those communities fight against these developments, they are often ignored. This practice has its origins in redlining, which was the systemic discriminatory practice of denying certain financial services (such as home loans) to people based on their race. This practice resulted in the segregation of Black people into areas of high disinvestnent and continued discrimination, compared to their white counterparts.

Ultimately, these historic injustices have resulted in higher air pollution exposure for Black people and other people of color, baking in long-lasting health issues that their white peers do not face in the same numbers. One such example of this is Cancer Alley, an 85-mile stretch in Louisiana that is home to nearly 150 oil refineries, chemical plants, and other toxic polluting facilities. This area"s mostly Black residents are exposed to higher amounts of pollution as a result of these facilities, with about 50 different toxic chemicals present in their air. These facilities have polluted not only the air, but also the water, subjecting the area"s mostly Black residents to significantly higher rates of cancer and respiratory illness. A deep dive on the issue from Vox cites a finding from the National Black Environmental Justice Network that Black Americans living in 19 states are 79 percent more likely to live in areas exposed to industrial pollution than white people. The article also references research from the University of Minnesota that notes that, "Black people breathe 56 percent more pollution than they cause, whereas white people breathe 17 percent less pollution than they generate."

Environmental justice seeks to rectify these wrongs and ensure that Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities are not left out of the environmental movement and solutions to the climate crisis. Environmental justice is a concept and a movement borne out of the fact that for decades, communities of color have been systemically and disproportionately targeted by  environmental racism, disinvestment, and failing infrastructure. The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, led by environmental justice advocates and academics, have defined EJ in a recent report as "the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, or ability, with respect to the development, implementation, enforcement, and evaluation of laws, regulations, programs, policies, practices, and activities, that affect human health and the environment." 

So, what can you do to put environmental justice into action? One way is to call on your elected leaders to invest in bold, just climate action that prioritizes these frontline communities in any recovery efforts and direct 40% of all climate investments to disadvantaged communities. Historic and systemic discrimination has led us to where we are today, and systemic solutions that prioritize the voices and concerns of frontline communities will help us achieve a just transition to a 100% clean energy future.

The post To End Environmental Racism, We Must Prioritize Frontline Communities appeared first on Generation Progress.

What Are the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act? 

The For The People Act (HR 1/S 1) is a transformative bill currently being considered in Congress that includes multiple policy solutions designed to build a stronger democracy that will more fairly represent all people, including marginalized communities that often have been kept from realizing the American dream. 

 This bill would: 

• Increase fair access to the ballot box, making it easier to vote
• End the dominance of big money in politics
• Ensure public officials work in the interest of the public

The bold policy solutions that young people have long called for have a much better chance of being enacted if we have a democracy that works for all of us, not just some of us. The For the People Act is a unique opportunity to fix the problems in our democracy and give the will of voters a bigger role in deciding U.S. public policy. At present, this bill has passed the House of Representatives and is currently pending in the Senate.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) sought to eliminate racial discrimination in voting; however, in recent years, key provisions of the VRA have been dismantled. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, known in the previous Congress as H.R. 4, would strengthen the Voting Rights Act and restore key protections for voters across the country. This bill would reestablish the rule that any changes to voting laws that could potentially discriminate against voters based on race must undergo a federal review process, known as pre-clearance. It was named after Georgia representative and civil rights activist John Lewis, who dedicated his life to fighting for the right of every American to be able to vote free from racial discrimination.

Why Does This Matter?

The For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act are two key pieces of legislation that seek to reform our democracy and transform it into one that works for all of us. Both of these bills would improve access to voting, protect the votes and voices of constituents by stopping partisan gerrymandering and reducing the outsize role of big money in politics, and ensure that public officials work for us. 

For too long, under-resourced communities and communities of color–particularly the Black community–have been disenfranchised. As of this March, the Brennan Center for Justice found that 361 voter suppression bills have been introduced or enacted in 47 states since the November 2020 election. There is a coordinated and organized movement working to suppress participation and representation in our democracy and concentrate power in the hands of those who already hold it. These bills would pave the way towards a future that is more inclusive and equitable, and give voters a clear way to communicate our priorities, from climate change to gun violence prevention, racial justice, healthcare, and more. 

What Does This Have To Do With the Climate Crisis? 

Solving the climate crisis will require a functioning democracy. When voters have fair access to the ballot box, we are able to cast our ballots for the issues that matter the most to us. The communities that have seen their rights to vote chipped away at are the same ones disproportionately experiencing the damaging effects of the climate crisis. These frontline communities know better than anyone else the solutions that are needed to address climate change in their neighborhoods. It is imperative that they are able to cast their votes for the politicians who will best represent them. 

Young people believe in climate action that confronts racial, economic, and environmental injustice. Voting is one concrete way for young Americans to make our voices heard and ensure that our priorities are acted upon by the people we elect to public office. When we are able to cast our votes freely, safely, and securely, we can ensure that the politicians we elect will take the bold action necessary to confront the climate crisis.

The For the People Act will also reduce the huge influence of big money and secret dark money in politics. For too long, corporate and special interests have had an outsized influence in our political system, guiding policies to benefit them, and not voters. This corrupted system has allowed lawmakers to ignore what everyday Americans want. For example, in the 117th Congress, there are currently 139 elected officials who deny the science and reality of climate change. These same 139 officials have collected a total of over $61 million in campaign contributions from the oil, gas, and coal industries. Climate denial, especially when directly funded by the fossil fuel industry, is a dangerous belief to have, as we don"t have time to waste on not  addressing the climate crisis.

What Can You Do?

Young people have long demanded more from our government, and we turned out in record numbers during the 2020 presidential election in order to make our voices heard and show that we are looking for strong leadership on climate. To date, President Biden has taken this directive seriously, using many of the core tools and power available to him to address the climate crisis–but there is still more action needed. It is now up to Congress to meet this moment and do their part by passing the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. The climate crisis can"t wait. Use our tool to tell lawmakers to pass the For the People Act. Then, call on Congress to prioritize frontline communities and the climate in future economic recovery packages. 

The post Why Strengthening Our Democracy Is Key to Combating the Climate Crisis appeared first on Generation Progress.

This Women"s History Month marks one year since the COVID-19 pandemic upended the lives of people across the globe. The impacts that climate change, COVID-19, and the economy have on women and girls are interconnected, and to ignore these connections would be a disservice to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Women and girls are already in a precarious place in society–globally, women often earn and are able to save significantly less than their male counterparts, lack access to adequate healthcare, and are frequently the victims of gender-based violence. Nearly 3 million women left the workforce over the course of the past year, many as a result of increased caregiving responsibilities at home due to the pandemic. Understanding that there exists a spectrum of gender identities beyond the binary, a recent report found that "most LGBT adults say that they or a household member lost a job or income due to the pandemic (56 percent), which compares to 44 percent of non-LGBT adults." The problem is significantly worse for many women of color–in December 2020, Black, Asian, and Hispanic women accounted for all of women"s job losses, and 154,000 Black women dropped out of the labor force entirely. Among young Millennials and Generation Z, the economic impacts of the pandemic are also being felt to a higher degree–19.5 percent have "reported they or their spouse or partner experienced layoffs since the pandemic began." Finally, when considering the impacts of climate change, women account for 80 percent of those displaced as a result of this issue. 

As the Biden administration works to rebuild our economy, it is imperative that these recovery efforts center women and girls. The pandemic has worsened women"s overall social and economic security, which means women"s equity must be at the forefront of any legislation intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing this, on International Women"s Day, President Biden issued an executive order establishing the White House Gender Policy Council. This council will oversee the administration"s all-of-government approach to gender equity and equality–a significant step in the right direction. 

Despite the fact that climate change impacts people of all genders, its effects are felt much differently by men and women. Due to the same vulnerabilities outlined above, women are less well equipped to handle the devastating effects of climate change. The linkages that exist between women"s overall outcomes and a changing climate cannot be ignored, especially when creating policies to address the climate crisis. For example: after natural disasters strike, women are less able to access critical healthcare, particularly reproductive care, and are at increased risk of experiencing gender-based violence and sexual assault. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we have about 30 years to transition to a carbon-neutral society to avoid climate catastrophe, and as the climate crisis worsens, we need gender equity to be at the core of any policies designed to address this crisis to ensure that women and girls don"t bear the brunt of its negative impacts. 

One way the administration and Congress can prioritize women while building a robust, inclusive, and climate-resilient economy is through a green recovery. Creating high-quality, well-paid, unionized jobs in the clean energy sector, particularly in frontline communities, would go a long way towards addressing the economic, gender equality, and climate crises facing today"s generations. Tribal, low-income, and communities of color have long borne the brunt of the climate crisis, facing toxic pollution, unsustainable development, and systemic disinvestment. Prioritizing these communities in a green jobs recovery would not only help to reduce the harms of past racism and racist policies, but can also create a jobs boon that will put these communities, and the women that are a part of them, on the path to a more just, sustainable future.

A just transition to a 100% clean energy future that rebuilds our economy and uplifts the status of women and girls is not only possible, but necessary. COVID-19 has laid bare and exacerbated the systemic inequalities that women faced even before the pandemic, and demonstrated that solving one crisis can be the path to solving others simultaneously. Now is the time for a bold, green economic recovery strategy that centers women, especially as they have faced significant losses over the past year.

The post The Administration Should Prioritize Women and Other Frontline Communities in a Green Jobs Recovery appeared first on Generation Progress.

Young people have been consistent leaders in movements that advocate for progressive solutions to the issues facing this country–and we are creating substantive change. In November, young people under the age of 35 turned out to vote in historic numbers in large part because of our desire for progressive solutions to issues like the climate crisis, systemic racism, and the gun violence epidemic. Throughout the campaign, Millennials and members of Generation Z made it clear that we want to see action from our government. Now that the election is over and a new administration has come into office, it"s important for us to know who has influence over the issues we care about and who is responsible for enacting the solutions we want to see.  

On January 20th, President Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th president of the United States. And a new president is just the start when it comes to changes in the executive branch of government. One of Biden"s first tasks as president has been appointing the leaders of the departments and agencies that make up the rest of the executive branch. This change in leadership will have a massive impact on many of the issues that young people care about.  

The new executive branch will include the President"s Cabinet which consists of heads of executive departments, independent agencies and other boards, commissions, and committees. These high-level officials serve as advisors to the president, using their expertise to inform the president"s decision-making. Within the departments and agencies that they lead, they are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws and policies. They administer programs, make funding decisions, and collect and analyze data. These agencies set the stage for what is possible in an administration, meaning that the leaders of federal departments and agencies will directly impact whether or not the goals of our generations are accomplished. This is why leadership change is so important and thinking beyond the seat of the presidency is critical. 

Many of President Biden"s appointees require Senate confirmation. As those confirmation hearings and votes continue, we wanted to break down exactly what young people can expect from the various departments and agencies under the Biden-Harris administration when it comes to the policy priorities that they want to see enacted. 

Student Debt

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The CFPB is tasked with protecting American consumers by regulating products and services that fall under federal consumer laws. The bureau also aims to empower consumers to make informed financial decisions through the spread of information and educational resources. In terms of student debt, the CFPB has the power to protect borrowers through the regulation of servicers and lenders. 

Biden-Harris Appointee: Rohit Chopra

Rohit Chopra is currently a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, and has previously served as the assistant director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he worked directly on protections for people with student loans. Chopra has also served as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, where he worked alongside Generation Progress to address the student debt crisis.

Status: Awaiting confirmation

Department of Education (ED)

The Department of Education may be best known for its role in supporting and strengthening K-12 education. However, ED also regulates and enforces rules to limit or expand the power of student loan lenders, services, banks, and colleges and universities. The department has significant power to act on student debt–including, most notably, the power to cancel student debt in part or in whole. It also has the power to shore up regulations that prevent predatory institutions from  defrauding students and borrowers. The Secretary of Education can lead this department to protect borrowers through regulatory rulemaking, cancelling student loans, and issuing guidance on how federal funding for colleges can be used.  

Biden-Harris Appointee: Miguel Cardona

Miguel Cardona is a former teacher and has previously served as the Connecticut Commissioner of Education.

Status: Confirmed

Climate

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA protects natural resources like air, land, and water to defend human and environmental health. The agency leads the country in developing and enforcing federal climate policy and conducts research to further public understanding of environmental health and risks. The Administrator of the EPA has the power to fight climate change by putting in place health and environmental safeguards, creating jobs in clean energy technology, and instating more forceful environmental protections and regulations. And importantly, they can prioritize policies that build resilience in frontline communities and embed environmental justice in all the work they advance. 

Biden-Harris Appointee: Michael S. Regan

Michael S. Regan previously served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and has also served as Air Quality Controller for the EPA under Pres. Obama. The Biden administration has indicated that it will prioritize environmental justice in its climate policy, acknowledging that BIPOC communities are often most impacted by pollution, natural disasters, and other manifestations of climate change. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of the Interior (DOI)

The Department of the Interior is tasked with conservation and management of the country"s natural resources. The department also works closely alongside Indigenous communities to protect public lands. The Interior Secretary has the power to address the climate crisis by implementing comprehensive regulations and protective measures and prevent pollution and exploitation of natural resources by corporate interests.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Representative Deb Halaand

Rep. Haaland is a U.S. Representative from New Mexico’s 1st congressional district. Rep. Haaland is the first Indigenous person to serve as a Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. Her nomination was enthusiastically supported by many young and Indigenous advocates.

Status: Confirmed

Department of Energy (DOE)

The Department of Energy develops scientific and technological solutions to address energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges.The Secretary of Energy has the power to combat climate change by supporting research and innovation that would cut down on carbon pollution, develop further production of renewable and clean energy.

Biden-Harris Nominee: Jennifer Granholm

Jennifer Granholm is the former Governor of Michigan, and the first woman to ever serve in that role.

Status: Confirmed

Gun Violence Prevention

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Department of Health and Human Services serves the public by advancing medicine, public health, and social services. The department has the power to combat the gun violence epidemic by declaring gun violence to be a public health emergency, which could result in the allocation of additional resources to address the issue and the promotion of community-led gun violence prevention measures at the federal, state, and local level.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra is the current Attorney General of California and a former U.S. Representative from California. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The DOJ is tasked with enforcing federal gun laws and regulating the gun industry, among its many duties. This department has the power to shape our criminal legal system, combat police brutality and white supremacy, and use a racial equity lens to address gun violence by supporting a public health approach and community-centered violence solutions. The department is led by the Attorney General.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Merrick Garland

Attorney General Garland previously served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 

Status: Confirmed

Immigration

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The Department of Homeland Security oversees security efforts in the areas of border security, immigration and customs enforcement, cyber security, and anti-terrorism security. The department also houses the Customs and Border Protection (CBP),  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The DHS Secretary has the power to work with President Biden to implement immigration policy that centers human dignity and provides a pathway to citizenship.

Biden-Harris Appointee: Alejandro Mayorkas

Alejandro Mayorkas is the first Latinx person and immigrant to lead this Department. Mayorkas served in prominent DHS roles during the Obama administration, including Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Deputy DHS Secretary, and led the development and implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

As discussed in the section on gun violence prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services serves the public through advancing medicine, public health and social services. The department, via the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), is also responsible for ensuring the care and safety of "unaccompanied children"–children who do not have lawful immigration status in the United States, are under the age of 18, and do not have a parent or legal guardian in the United States.

Biden-Harris Nominee: Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra is the current Attorney General of California and a former U.S. Representative from California. 

Status: Confirmed

Conclusion

When young people turned out to vote in November, we voted for a president and vice president. But the impact of our votes extends far beyond those two positions, leading to new people in key positions that will determine U.S. policy for years to come. With this new leadership, young people can expect to see bolder interagency solutions to the urgent issues facing our country that meet the needs of the lived experiences of us all. Over the coming months and years, young people will be paying close attention to who is leading these agencies, what their policy priorities are, and what they are able to accomplish. We expect these new leaders–not just the president–to keep the needs of young people in mind as they go about their work, and we look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together. 

The post Beyond the Presidency: How Biden Appointees Can Take Action on Youth Issues appeared first on Generation Progress.

Young people are concerned about climate change and how it will impact our communities, public health, and economic future–and we are not alone in recognizing the urgency of this crisis: experts say that if we don"t take substantial action to protect our climate, our entire global ecosystem could begin collapsing beyond repair within 30 years.

Low-income and tribal communities, as well as communities of color, are increasingly and disproportionately affected by climate change. These same communities also have the fewest resources to prepare for and recover from its harms. Our generation can change that. Young people believe in bold climate action that confronts racial, economic, reproductive, and environmental injustice. Solving the climate crisis calls for us to build a fair economy and confront the racism and economic inequality that has prevented equal access to clean air, clean water, health care, and sustainable wages for far too long. The communities that bear the greatest burdens of the climate crisis from pollution and environmental racism, also known as frontline communities, must be at the forefront of any and all solutions. To that end, we are calling for a national climate policy agenda that reduces pollution, invests in frontline communities, strengthens our democracy, and moves us towards a 100% clean energy economy.

The Biden administration has already taken significant steps towards this clean energy future by enacting several executive orders that strengthen environmental protections, prioritize environmental justice, direct investments toward the communities that need it most, and invest in quality clean energy jobs. President Biden has also shown his commitment to climate action by nominating climate champions to key cabinet positions. Given this momentum, we are advocating for sustained efforts to address the climate crisis and environmental injustice throughout the administration and all levels of government. 

Below are nine key priorities we feel must be addressed in order to achieve a just future for all:

1. Center environmental justice: Center environmental justice and economic justice in all climate planning and policy. Recognize that climate change, racial justice, and economic justice are inextricably linked, and support policies that work to advance both climate solutions and racial and economic justice.
2. Act with urgency: Aggressively address climate change to achieve a 100% clean energy economy no later than 2050, including 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035.
3. Create good jobs: Grow an economy that works for everyone, and support the creation of clean energy jobs, particularly in environmental justice and frontline communities.
4. Ensure 40% for justice: In any COVID-19 relief packages or long-term economic stimulus packages, prioritize directing 40% of climate investment benefits to environmental justice communities as committed to by the Biden administration"s executive order.
5. Center climate diplomacy and employ a whole-of-government approach: Put climate change at the center of US foreign policy and integrate climate into federal agency decision-making. Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement is just step one in a much longer path to a clean energy economy. The US will have to re-design and redefine our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – how much we are committing to reduce emissions for the Paris Climate Agreement. We want this NDC to be ambitious and impactful in urging other countries to take bold climate action.
6. Reduce pollution, improve public health: Recognize the linkages between climate change and public health, and support policies and initiatives that benefit both public health and the environment by reducing pollution.
7. Protect 30×30: Protect American waters and lands. If we conserve 30 percent of the country"s lands and waters by 2030, we can fight climate change and reverse the destruction of our wildlife, waters, and natural places. (This principle is often referred to as "30×30".) 
8. Bolster community resilience: Create resilience within environmental justice communities and farming communities. These communities must be strengthened to withstand and respond to the climate crisis. 
9. Reform and protect democracy: Advocate for the passage of H.R. 1 – the For The People Act. A functioning democracy paves the way for successful climate response. 

The post What It Will Take to Solve the Climate Crisis appeared first on Generation Progress.