At GRID, our work centers climate action, environmental justice, and economic development in community-based renewable energy solutions. We are thrilled that the Biden Administration is taking action for economic and environmental justice with a series of strong Executive Orders issued during its first few weeks in office.
- All federal agencies must “adequately take account of climate risk, environmental justice, and intergenerational equity” when assessing costs and benefits.
- Agencies must embed equity in their actions and resource allocations, in consultation with members of communities that have been historically underrepresented or subject to discrimination.
- Regulatory review must fully account for equity benefits consequences to ensure that decisions benefit and don’t burden environmental and economic justice communities.
- An Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad coordinates ambitious climate action, clean spending, green jobs, resilience, and environmental justice using a whole-government approach.
- Our policy team works hard to make our work possible by influencing and advising policy makers. Adopting one of GRID’s policy recommendations, the Order establishes an Environmental Justice Advisory Council through which environmental justice and racial equity leaders will advise government agencies.
- The Justice40 Initiative directs 40 percent of the Federal climate and clean energy related investments to disadvantaged communities, in consultation with those communities.
A new era is just beginning. GRID has shown that advancing justice and economic growth through clean energy is essential. Making these policies a reality will take enormous, collaborative efforts inside and outside the government. We will continue to push for environmental and economic justice to drive our nation’s decisions, to build a brighter future in 2021 and beyond.