The Green Tea- April 2023
Welcome to the April edition of the Green Tea newsletter! We have exciting news to share from the Dream.Org Green For All team about new program launches and progress on climate justice goals. Also included are toolkits that will help you benefit from new tax credits and host your own Climate Justice Earth Day Event!
Centering Communities in Climate Action
During Earth Week, we launched our Live Green Or Die Tryin’ Campaign to raise awareness about the historic $369 billion in climate investments made available through the Inflation Reduction Act. We want to make sure that people know this funding is available and uplift community-centered solutions in the process — especially in low-income communities and communities of color. Climate can’t wait, and we can’t afford any money to be left on the table. Voice your support for climate solutions that will help your community!
We’ve got the campaign, do you have the logo? To celebrate the launch of our Live Green Or Die Tryin’ campaign, Dream.Org is holding a T-shirt contest. If you can create an impactful, eye-catching logo that embodies the phrase Live Green Or Die Tryin’, we want to see it. Click here to learn more about the contest. Apply today and get a chance to win $500 for your logo!
Advancing Climate Justice Through Federal Policy
The Green For All team has been working hard to raise awareness of new green funds made available by the Inflation Reduction Act and make sure those funds reach historically underserved communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis and center their voices while shaping solutions.
Major progress was made in promoting equity in the distribution of climate funds when our team recently gathered support from members like you. We are happy to report that 2172 advocates signed in support of our comment asking the Environmental Protection Agency to amplify technical assistance, streamline the grant application process, and define key metrics when implementing its Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program. This will help Green For All achieve its goal of making sure vulnerable communities can benefit from these grants, advancing equity.
State Advocacy in Nevada and North Carolina
In Nevada, Green For All recently joined the Nevada Environmental Justice coalition and advocates in Carson City to voice support for AB 312, which can help bring IRA climate funds to vulnerable communities in the Silver State. This legislation would establish a Commission on Environmental Justice to advise the government on these issues and accept funding for local climate resiliency projects. If the bill is passed, this will be a major win for Nevada’s most vulnerable residents and environment.
In North Carolina, SB 714, or An Energy Resilient NC, has been introduced to the state Senate. The bill creates a fund for clean energy development, including technical assistance for local governments and CBOs, clean water projects, grid resilience projects, and clean energy and efficiency projects. SB 714 has the support of the Governor's office and could provide an additional $225 million for a federal match.
Handy Toolkits:
IRA Tax Credit Toolkit: Want to save money and help the environment? Check our toolkit on how to tap into new tax credits from the largest climate bill in history, the Inflation Reduction Act.
Earth Day Toolkit: Celebrate Earth Day by hosting your own Climate Justice event! Our toolkit provides resources and ideas to make your event engaging, fun, and meaningful for your whole community.
Thank you for joining us for this edition of the Green Tea GFA newsletter. We appreciate your ongoing support and commitment to climate justice.
