The most severe harms from climate change fall disproportionately on communities with low incomes and communities of color who are least able to prepare for, and recover from, heat waves, poor air quality, flooding, and other impacts. Infrastructure projects and economic policy decisions in the US have failed to fully account for related harms from pollution, natural disasters, and environmental displacement. The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), if implemented intentionally, provide an opportunity to reverse this damage. However, depending on the projects that localities prioritize, these investments could exacerbate rather than mitigate climate change.
In this brief, we provide a case study of how New York’s Genesee-Finger Lakes (FLX) region can use the IIJA and the IRA to advance their regional climate action goals. Based upon this research, recommendations for how the Genesee-FLX Climate Collective and other organizations like it can use the IIJA and the IRA to turn their climate action strategies into action include the following:
- Decide which tactics the collective will use to influence the IIJA and IRA funding decisions.
- Encourage “flexing” to use funds for climate action activities rather than their traditional uses.
- Pay attention to state formula grant programs and how those funds are spent.
- Take advantage of tax credits.
- Incorporate workforce development efforts across all topic areas.
