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President Joe Biden s American Jobs Plan proposes investments that range from road and bridge repairs to affordable housing construction and expanded childcare.
The Biden administration outlined the potential benefits of its $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan for individual states Monday, saying that it would save Pennsylvanians money on auto repairs, housing and internet service. The package also seeks to expand job opportunities by investing in childcare, manufacturing innovation, and clean energy development.
“For decades, infrastructure in Pennsylvania has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. The need for action is clear,” the White House said in a “fact sheet” that highlights how Biden’s American Jobs Plan could impact the state in a dozen policy areas.
Engineers working on site at transmission system infrastructure project (yuttana Contributor Studio/ Shutterstock)
Released on March 31, the Biden-Harris administration’s massive infrastructure plan, called the American Jobs Plan, is hugely ambitious. Biden accordingly described it as a “once-in-a-generation investment.” The proposal does not just look to fix the US’ crumbling infrastructure currently ranked 13th in the world it aims to transform the US economy, simultaneously addressing climate change, employment, and historic inequities. Its strength is that it recognizes the connections between infrastructure, energy, water, climate change, access to services, jobs, and justice. However, this might also be its weakness. While the individual proposals are not necessarily inseparable, coming in at an estimated $2 trillion, the plan will face significant hurdles in Congress. If it passes, it is likely to look very different than it does now.
Green by design: Utilizing urban surfaces for climate action
Mon, Apr 5, 2021 4:00 PM
The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center hosts a discussion on community-scale implementation of green urban design.
As the global community continues to grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Atlantic Council is open for business. Our business, meetings, and events, however, are occurring virtually. For more information, please read an update from our President and CEO.
City developers and planners are trading in traditionally dark, impervious surfaces for climate-friendly design in the form of solar panels, green roofs, and the use of porous materials. This greener approach to urban design is critical to delivering on ambitious climate goals, and consequently, to alleviating environmental inequities that have long impacted residents. Without accounting for climate impacts in surface choices, increased pollution, flood risk, and dangerous heat has long afflicted local residents, particul
EPRI Vice President and CNO Rita Baranwal joins the Atlantic Council Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition Press Release
Former Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy brings deep public and private sector experience on nuclear policy and technology
WASHINGTON, DC – April 1, 2021 – The Atlantic Council announced today that Dr. Rita Baranwal, vice president of nuclear and chief nuclear officer at Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), has joined the Atlantic Council Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition. Baranwal, who previously served as assistant secretary for the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, brings a wealth of public and private sector experience advancing nuclear policy and technology in the United States and abroad.
Increasing ESG practices can help Asia reach goals of carbon neutrality
Asia-Pacific stock market data on LED display screen (Pavel Bobrovskiy/Shutterstock)
Since Larry Fink of BlackRock wrote to the world’s CEOs in 2020 advocating for sustainability as a new standard for investing, corporate enterprises around the world have faced increased pressure to improve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) profiles. Many Western companies, including Microsoft, Apple, Salesforce, and Delta have followed through, pledging to become carbon-negative or neutral, sending a clear signal that the private sector needs to fulfill its roles in solving the health, climate, and biodiversity crises. However, in general, East Asian companies have not exhibited the same corporate ambition and commitment to environmentally and socially sustainable investment. For example, among major stock markets, China’s CSI 300 companies received the lowest ranking in Bloomberg’s ESG disclosure.