Climate Action
American Jobs Plan can open the door to post-Covid recovery
May 28, 2021
The impacts of a changing climate pose a serious threat to the US’s infrastructure and way of life. The nation is ill-equipped to withstand the onslaught from the increasing intensity of hurricanes, sea-level rise, coastal flooding and shoreline erosion. While the US is the wealthiest country in the world, it ranks 13th in its overall quality of infrastructure.
As we emerge from the pandemic, it is crucial that we take the opportunity to ensure a future where we are better prepared to face the challenges posed by climate change. That entails creating jobs that help us adapt to the changes we will face within our lifetimes and grow the green economy.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration unveiled a once-in-a-generation plan to invest in America’s infrastructure. The American Jobs Plan aims to put the country back to work and help it recover from the worst pandemic the world has seen in the last 100 years.
In April 2020, US unemployment rates hit the lowest levels since the Great Depression in the 1930s. With the American Jobs Plan, an opportunity exists to grow back, and grow back sustainably.
The American Jobs Plan will put the United States back into a leadership position in the fight for our planet. It will boost the economy with millions of green jobs and update the country’s infrastructure to defend against the ravages of climate change. This includes improving transit systems; ensuring the delivery of clean drinking water, a renewed electric grid and high-speed broadband; and building and upgrading housing, commercial buildings, schools and child care and federal facilities.
The American Jobs Plan also puts the country on course to utilize 100 percent clean power by 2035, breaking free from fossil fuel dependence once and for all. It will lay the foundation for the future electrification of the nation’s vehicle fleet as well as retrofitting homes, schools and buildings to be energy efficient. More importantly, the American Jobs Plan will assure equity by targeting 40 percent of the benefits from green economy infrastructure investments in disadvantaged communities.
This plan can strengthen America’s preparedness in the face of climate change and boost economic recovery in a climate-forward way. Take action by telling your congressperson to support the American Jobs Plan. Subscribe to action alert emails to help us drive further legislative action.
