The Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative aims to direct 40% of the benefits of federal climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities. But how does it decide which communities count as “disadvantaged”? The White House’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) provides answers, but, according to WRI analysis, fails to account for the multidimensional burdens borne by some communities and only indirectly accounts for race, which WRI found is the most consistent predictor of environmental burden. Read more.

The idea of a “15-minute city” may be the latest victim of conspiracy theories, but the concept can actually vastly improve quality of life for city residents. Gearing car-centric cities toward a model where essential services are available in under 15 minutes of non-polluting travel can aid in post-pandemic urban recovery. It’s why the concept of a “15-minute city” has spread across the globe to cities like Melbourne, Shanghai and Ottowa. Paris, France began its transition to a 15-minute city by converting a busy highway along the Seine into a safe walking and cycling path. Read more.