Tag Archives: Climate Change

In The News: American exceptionalism on climate risk amplifies financial instability (Green Central Banking)

“… it’s called climate change because the climate is changing, and much faster than scientists originally anticipated. We cannot merely use past data to predict future climate impacts,” wrote Alex Martin, senior policy analyst at AFR. “We must take a precautionary approach and heed the stern warnings from scientists about our dire current global trajectory. The US will not be spared the effects.”

Letters to Regulators: EPA Should Continue to Develop Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Guidance that Delivers Tangible Benefits to Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities Across the Country

May 12, 2023 Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund (AFREF) submitted an environmental justice advocates comment letter signed by Public Citizen and WE ACT for Environmental Justice to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its Implementation Framework for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.  The Implementation

Blog: How to prevent the next banking crisis? Lean in on climate now.

The banking crisis of 2023, an event appearing on few bingo cards, has thrown a harsh light on the urgency of managing the multitude of crises that the world now faces – climate change being the most existential of them. Factor in the vexing problem that economists have repeatedly underestimated the economic impacts of climate change and we have a straightforward case for proactively hardening the financial system against its effects.

Letters to Regulators: FTC Should Update its Green Guides to Prevent Greenwashing in Investment and Financial Services, Particularly for Carbon Offsets-Related Claims

Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund (AFREF) submitted two letters in response to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s request for comment on updates to its ‘Green Guides’ for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims. The Guides were last revised in 2012.  AFREF joined a coalition

Letters to Regulators: EPA RFI on Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program

AFREF submitted a comment letter in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s request for information for the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program (ECJ Program), which provides funding for financial and technical assistance to carry out environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities. The letter highlights the need for the ECJ Program to minimize barriers for the most climate-vulnerable applicants, prioritize the needs and perspectives of all underrepresented or historically marginalized community members, and prioritize projects that combat the harmful effects of bluelining by financial service providers.

Letters to Regulators: Letter to FHFA on the Federal Home Loan Bank System

AFREF led 14 organizations in the housing, consumer protection, climate, civil rights, and community investment spaces, in a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency regarding the Federal Home Loan Bank system, arguing for expanded contributions to affordable housing to justify the public investment in the system, and for the system to undertake a number of initiatives to support members in reducing their climate risk and climate vulnerability.

News Release: EPA’s Initial Guidance on $27 Billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will Provide Health, Economic, and Wealth-Building Benefits to Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its initial program design guidance for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GHGRF or “fund”). This key environmental justice and climate provision of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will help provide direct investment toward climate mitigation and resilience projects in communities across the country.