POLICY BRIEF

The New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act

Lessons for Shaping an Inclusive Energy Transition in the EU

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Similar to the countries of the European Union (EU), disadvantaged communities in the United States face higher exposure to pollution, higher burden of energy costs, and live in poorly insulated, leaky homes. An ambitious legislation, New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), seeks to address these challenges and leads the way with ambitious goals to reduce emissions while ensuring that at least 35% - with a goal of 40% - of the benefits from climate funding directly support disadvantaged communities. This investment mandate addresses the unequal impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups and offers a strong example for the EU. This policy brief analyses policies in the fields of building repair and renovation, decarbonisation of heating and cooling, access to and ownership of renewable energy, and inclusive workforce development, and how they have been shaped for a just transition by the investment mandate adopted under the CLCPA.