Renewable Energy Jobs Can Change Climate Politics, Passing the Equality Act, and More

February 27, 2021

Renewable energy jobs can uplift fossil fuel communities and remake climate politics

Many Republican-leaning states and counties stand to benefit the most from a transition to a clean economy, but local politicians, residents, and businesses can view renewable energy as a threat. Adie Tomer, Joseph Kane, and Caroline George explain how policies to retrain workers in fossil fuel hubs could break America's climate stalemate and build a cleaner energy future.

How the US can deal with China in the UN Human Rights Council

As the United States seeks a return to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), it will encounter attempts from China and others to change norms and undermine human rights worldwide. Ted Piccone discusses how America can reengage in the HRC and ensure that the council does not fall prey to China's goal of gridlock.

What will it take for the Equality Act to actually become law?

"The Fairness for All Act has too little Democratic support to pass, and the Equality Act has too little Republican support. As written, both are dead on arrival in the Senate. But amended, the Equality Act could become a vehicle for bipartisan Senate negotiations that could add tailored religious exemptions. That kind of bill would have a real shot at winning 60 or more Senate votes and a majority in the House," argues Jonathan Rauch.

Read in The Washington Post

What to watch this weekend

Limited broadband access leaves students at risk of falling behind. "The pandemic has highlighted just how intricately related lack of broadband access is to systemic inequality," says Nicol Turner Lee in this PBS NewsHour segment on the digital divide affecting millions of U.S. students during COVID-19.

The Biden administration and the MENA region. To examine upcoming priorities for the United States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Brookings held a four-day virtual conference featuring Jordan's King Abdullah II, Iraqi President Barham Salih, and experts from around the world.

Black Americans and the middle class. On the latest episode of the Brookings Debrief, our monthly Instagram Live series, Tiffany Ford joins Timothy Higashi for a conversation about the well-being of Black middle-class Americans and policies to support them.

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