Issue: Economic Impacts

This issue of The Forge explores the role of narrative in shifting the balance of power and building a more equitable society. Authors talked to thirteen organizers across the progressive movement about how the current moment has created an opening to challenge the dominant neoliberal narrative and introduce transformative ways of seeing the world. Two of these interviews are with climate movement leaders: Miya Yoshitani, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, talked about her work with low-income Asian immigrants and the possibility of replacing the extractive economy with a regenerative one, and Annie Leonard, Executive Director of Greenpeace USA and founder of the Story of Stuff, discussed the ways capitalism and an ideology of exploitation lead to climate change — and how environmentalists are changing their strategies to build power.
 
 

At least 7 in 10 New Jerseyans support each of the six key components of the Clean Energy Equity Act, a bill that aims to help low-income New Jersey families benefit from solar, storage and energy efficiency.

Defines a “Regenerative Economy” in terms of the values, processes, and policies it entails.

     
Review of research on the equity implications of a clean energy transition (how such a transition could negatively impact some groups and communities), and ‘just transition’ policies meant to abate those effects. The literature suggests that energy and climate policies and programs must specifically embed equity and social justice within climate change mitigation goals and emphasize commitments to job training and economic development to support those folks adversely affected by the transition away from fossil fuels to new, renewable sources of energy. (As Climate Justice Alliance phrases it, “Transition is inevitable. Justice is not.”)    

Most Americans are underestimating both the potential economic impact of climate change and the role that entrepreneurs and investors can play in rectifying it, according to Inerjys Ventures, a global climate solutions investment firm:

Fewer than two in five Americans (38%) believe climate change will damage the U.S. economy if it is not addressed.
About one in five Americans (19%) think it will cost more to solve climate change globally than it will to fix the problems that arise from it.
A quarter (25%) of Americans don’t think efforts from U.S. entrepreneurs/start-up companies are important in the fight against climate change.
Only about a third of Americans (35%) believe there is not enough money being invested in technology that could help prevent or fix climate change.
42% say the U.S. government has more of a responsibility than U.S. companies to address issues in America that cause climate change.