Feb 18, 2022 - Energy & Climate

Biden admin launches climate justice screening tool

Ben Geman

Solar Panels — Solar panels in Calipatria, Calif., on Dec. 15, 2021. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The White House unveiled a draft screening tool designed to guide efforts to ensure 40% of the benefits of federal investments in climate, clean energy and other areas flow to disadvantaged communities.

Why it matters: The beta version launched Friday is a key part of wider administration efforts on environmental justice — that is, addressing the disproportionate pollution burdens facing poor communities and people of color.

Yes, but: AP and Reuters report that the new tool does not include race among the indicators of pollution-burdened communities.

Officials said excluding race will make projects less legally vulnerable, "even as they acknowledged that race has been a major factor in terms of who experiences environmental injustice," AP reports.

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Biden admin launches climate justice screening tool

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