Yes, we're calling it climate legislation. Its official name is the Inflation Reduction Act, but this seems to be only the latest successful effort to brand a strong but controversial policy proposal as something more broadly appealing. Whatever you call it, most analysts are saying it's the most consequential climate legislation EVER, estimated to reduce pollution levels to 40% below 2005 levels. Here's an easy one-page summary of what the Act does and here's a very clear but somewhat longer explainer.
As a climate justice organization that works our tails off to reduce the climate effects of wasteful production and consumption by making reuse and repair both super cool and super affordable, we are excited! The legislation will provide tax credits for for electric vehicle purchase, conversion to clean energy, solar installations, heat pumps, batteries, and efficient appliances. There's funding to make public housing more energy efficient and resilient to climate change.
BUT. As this article outlines, the bill could have done more, especially for folks in the lowest income brackets. There's still time and ability to make the act work more equitably, to favor lower-income folks and folks who are first and worst burdened by climate change. We'll be following along as Congress creates the rules to administer all the provisions of this sweeping legislation, and we want to see equity and justice.