Climate and Community Institute unveils working-class climate agenda
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 5
Climate and Community Institute unveils working-class climate agenda
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 5
At New York and Washington events, CCI said 70% of voters, including 65% of Republicans, believe climate action can lower living costs.
The "Stop Greed, Build Green" platform promotes green economic populism, backing heat pumps, free electric buses, affordable EVs, rent and insurance caps, and taxes on polluters.
CCI says the plan updates Green New Deal politics after Trump rolled back protections and Biden-era gains proved uneven, while seeking broader support from unions, lawmakers and local progressive leaders.
When lowering living costs clashes with high-wage jobs, which does green populism prioritize?
Can linking climate action to daily costs build the political will for radical economic change?
As cities adopt green housing policies, can they avoid the rent control pitfalls seen in Europe?
"The 2026 'Stop Greed, Build Green' Plan: Confronting Corporate Power to Cut Living Costs and Emissions"
Overview
In May 2026, the Climate and Community Institute launched the "Stop Greed, Build Green" agenda, rooted in Green Economic Populism, to address urgent climate and economic crises. This agenda responds to voter frustration caused by slow implementation of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and aggressive deregulation under the 2025 Trump administration. It proposes policies like utility bill caps, expanded public transit, and corporate accountability measures to deliver immediate relief and create union jobs. Despite conservative backlash and political hurdles, local electoral wins for socialist candidates demonstrate growing support. The agenda aims to unite working-class communities by linking climate action with affordability and challenging corporate power for a fairer, greener future.