Decarbonizing the economy will be a long-term process, but people need help in the here and now. Immediate relief is not only about putting money back in people’s pockets, it can also be a whole-of-economy approach that deals with how environmental instability shows up in everyday life.

In our approach, climate is not an add-on or afterthought to piecemeal affordability measures or marginal changes. Climate policy should alleviate pain points where people need help, from their healthcare to their cooling costs.

To meet this moment, we've created policy proposals to take on climate and economic issues at the same time. These policies can deliver immediate relief across the spectrum of everyday life in the areas where people are intensely feeling the effects of the climate crisis.

From skyrocketing electricity costs due to historic heat waves, to rising home insurance rates in the wake of extreme weather, to increasing gas prices due to fossil fuel volatility, the climate crisis is making an already untenable economic situation even worse.

Working people are struggling with an affordability crisis as climate change makes life more expensive, difficult, and unstable. 🧵

73 percent of drivers say they have no choice but to drive as much as they do, and 53 percent want more transportation options.

Unexpected transportation costs are difficult to cover for nearly 2 in 5 Americans.

Around 2 in 5 Americans say that they sometimes, often, or always have to make significant adjustments to their spending to afford transportation.

First, an important baseline: More than 3 in 4 Americans own or share a personal car for their primary transportation.

Cars have long been commonly associated with freedom in the United States, and it is often assumed that everyone in the country loves to drive. But our latest research tells a different story of a population seeking another type of independence: freedom to move around without cars.

We have solutions for small towns and big cities, no matter how residents get around. Our report calls for overhauling federal and state DOTs, and making massive investments in diverse transportation options so that people have real choice.

🚲 Nondrivers aren't only in big cities. About 30% of people in rural and low-density areas, more than 37M people, live in households with fewer cars than driving-age people.

🚗 73% of drivers say they have no choice but to drive as much as they do, and 53% want more transportation options.

💰 The lowest-income households with cars spend 40% of their income on transportation. Those without cars spend 7%.