In the United States, responding to the climate crisis depends on effective partnerships among federal, state, and local governments. When different levels of government collaborate and communicate with each other when they are developing climate and energy policies, they can go farther and faster in achieving durable, equitable, ambitious climate action for the health and welfare of the people across the country.
Much of the historic infusion of investment in resilience, clean energy, and low-carbon transportation infrastructure made possible via the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL or IIJA) and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will require implementation at the state and local level.
The choices states and localities make when investing federal infrastructure dollars will meaningfully affect the success of federal and state policies and programs to address greenhouse gas emissions, improve community resilience, and address equity and environmental justice. Ensuring that federal funds are spent in ways that advance GHG emission reductions or climate resilience will require significant engagement by state and local policymakers to secure the necessary results and make sure benefits and costs are shared equitably.
Georgetown Climate Center’s work on infrastructure-related policy currently focuses on four interrelated opportunities:
- Helping state and federal policy makers understand the connections between their use of federal infrastructure funds and near- and long-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions;
- Identifying opportunities to harness federal investment in infrastructure to improve resilience to the effects of climate change at the state, local and national levels;
- Supporting federal and state policymakers to achieve the equity and environmental justice goals of the Justice40 initiative as they make their infrastructure investment decisions; and
- Connecting policy makers with analysis and tools to accelerate the equitable deployment of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Blog | EPA’s Proposed Endangerment Finding Revocation Purports to Limit Both Federal and State Climate Authority
September 10, 2025
By Amanda Lineberry, Senior Associate On August 1, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to rescind the cornerstone 2009 Endangerment Finding that enables EPA to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs)...
Understanding Recent Federal Actions | Transportation Funding & Programs
August 11, 2025
This explainer is part of GCC’s efforts to help state officials and stakeholders understand how recent federal actions may affect state policies and programs related to energy and climate change. Our goal is for this...
Issue Brief | Virginia's Community Flood Preparedness Grant Program: A Model for State Climate Adaptation Funding
July 31, 2025
In this environment of federal retreat from climate adaptation, Virginia's Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) stands out as a proven model for how states can build their own comprehensive flood resilience programs.
Statement on EPA's Proposed Repeal of Legal Foundation for Federal Climate Regulation
July 29, 2025
Trump Administration Action Runs Counter to Decades of Environmental Protection
Understanding Recent Federal Actions | "Energy Emergency" Declaration and State Energy Policies
July 1, 2025
This explainer is part of GCC’s efforts to help state officials and stakeholders understand how recent federal actions may affect state policies and programs related to energy and climate change. Our goal is for this...
Issue Brief | Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025
June 3, 2025
A Climate Adaptation Analysis As climate change intensifies, communities across the United States are experiencing increasing frequency and severity of floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. The...
As cities grapple with worsening hazards and extreme weather as a result of climate change, socioeconomic disparities and inequities are amplifying the need for more equitable approaches to climate adaptation. In a new...
Issue Brief | States Leading the Way on Climate Adaptation
May 13, 2025
In a significant shift from previous federal priorities, the United States government is scaling back critical climate adaptation infrastructure precisely when climate impacts are intensifying nationwide. As the Trump...
GCC Explainers | Understanding Recent Federal Actions & What They Mean for States
May 2, 2025
These explainers are part of GCC’s efforts to help state officials and stakeholders understand how recent federal actions may affect state policies and programs related to clean energy, climate change, and climate...
Issue Brief | Planning for Equitable EV Charging: A Review of Justice40 Elements in National EV Infrastructure State Plans
August 28, 2024
By Sherif Halaweish, Climate Fellow and Matthew Goetz, Associate Mitigation Director As states across the country prepare to implement a new round of funding for EV charging infrastructure by updating their National...