A growing narrative in the past year suggests that Americans prioritize economic issues over the climate crisis, particularly as the Trump administration has rolled back numerous environmental regulations. However, a prominent group of progressives is countering this notion, asserting that environmental concerns are intrinsically linked to economic challenges.
A recent policy initiative from the Climate and Community Institute (CCI), titled “Stop Greed, Build Green,” presents a vision of “green economic populism.” The group argues that efforts to decarbonize the economy should not be viewed as a hindrance to affordability, but rather as a potential means to enhance it. CCI has been instrumental in drafting federal legislation for prominent figures such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, and has played a key role in pioneering public power initiatives in New York.
This initiative serves as a direct response to the increasing sentiment in Washington that climate policies are politically detrimental. Naomi Klein, a well-known author and founding advisory board member of CCI, emphasized the importance of this approach, stating that it challenges the misconception that emission reductions will negatively impact people’s lives and financial situations.
The CCI recently launched its “working-class climate agenda” at an event in New York City, featuring speakers from various organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America and Cornell University’s Climate Jobs Institute. Following the event, CCI brought its message to Washington, D.C., engaging with lawmakers and hosting discussions that included former White House officials, congressional staff, scholars, and labor leaders.
Supporting their initiative with new research, CCI collaborated with the polling firm Data for Progress, revealing that 70% of voters, including 65% of Republicans, believe that taking action on climate change can lower living costs. This data suggests that many working-class individuals, a demographic often targeted by right-leaning populists like Donald Trump, may be open to environmental policies.
Patrick Bigger, CCI’s research director, highlighted the importance of addressing the genuine struggles faced by individuals due to years of inadequate investment by both the private sector and government in the working class.
While some Democrats and progressives are currently connecting the cost-of-living crisis to climate change, CCI aims to go beyond temporary solutions by advocating for economic democracy that challenges corporate dominance and collaborates with labor unions and social movements to influence policy.
Rakeen Mabud, a political economist and senior fellow at CCI, stated that achieving true affordability requires a fundamental restructuring of the economic system rather than merely adjusting the finances of corporate shareholders.
This new platform builds upon the principles of the Green New Deal, a comprehensive framework that gained traction through the efforts of the Sunrise Movement and Ocasio-Cortez in 2018, with CCI serving as a key policy advisor. The Green New Deal sought to link climate action with an extensive expansion of social programs, promising jobs, housing, and healthcare alongside a swift transition to renewable energy.
CCI, previously known as the Climate and Community Project, contributed to the development of federal Green New Deal proposals, including a public housing bill introduced in 2019 by Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, as well as a 2021 education bill put forth by former Representative Jamaal Bowman and Senator Ed Markey. Daniel Aldana Cohen, CCI’s founding co-director, described this period as a “moment for big ideas.”
Despite the political momentum generated by these federal initiatives, progress in Congress has been limited. Some aspects of the Green New Deal were integrated into more incremental measures like President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, which, while providing significant clean energy investments, did not achieve the comprehensive economic transformation that many progressives had hoped for. Following the return of the Trump administration to power in January, efforts to reverse the environmental gains were quickly initiated.
The new policy agenda aims to learn from both the successes and shortcomings of the prior era, placing a strong emphasis on the immediate economic concerns of Americans.
Naomi Klein criticized previous “neoliberal climate policies,” such as carbon pricing, for neglecting their impact on household expenses. She noted that the Green New Deal represented an attempt to rectify these oversights by emphasizing large-scale infrastructure and job creation initiatives. However, its ambitious scope may have led some to perceive it as impractical, allowing detractors to mischaracterize its intent.
Green economic populism seeks to make climate action more relatable and accessible, shifting the focus from broad decarbonization goals to “climate policies that people can experience directly,” according to Aldana Cohen. He stressed the need to illustrate how these policies benefit individuals directly.
One criticism of the Biden administration’s climate strategy is that its advantages have been unevenly distributed and often not readily apparent. Despite the scale of the IRA, a mere 35% of voters reported having heard “a lot” or “some” about it in a recent survey. The new framework aims to provide tangible benefits quickly, such as lower utility bills, greater access to heat pumps, affordable electric vehicles built by unions, and free electric buses.
While the Green New Deal prioritized job creation, this fresh perspective emphasizes reducing everyday expenses. Although underemployment remains a significant issue, Cohen noted that the green jobs generated during the Biden administration were a “drop in the bucket” compared to the overall labor market. He highlighted that all working individuals are feeling the strain of rising living costs, particularly as the conflict in Iran increases fuel prices, underscoring the connection between fossil fuels, global conflicts, and personal finances.
“Our current focus needs to encompass the entire working class,” Cohen concluded, asserting that demonstrating how climate policy can enhance quality of life is essential for building broader support for these initiatives.
