The dog days of August are barking! Earlier this week, the US Senate passed landmark legislation paving the way for the United States’ most significant climate change investment to date. The bill pours $370 billion into the fight against climate change, including tax credits and rebates for electric vehicles, solar panels, and other investments that people and companies across the country can make in a more sustainable future. If all of its elements are enacted as expected, the bill is projected to reduce America’s carbon emissions by 40% by 2030.

Impact investors have long known that a clean climate is a good long-term investment. But an important feature of the bill’s investment is that it enlists people all across the country to take action. For anyone who has been eyeing an eco-friendly (and potentially money-saving) upgrade to their house or car, the rebates and credits are largely applied at point-of-sale, making them true relief for those sticking to a budget without having to wait on a faraway tax filing. Take a look at this handy table for a better understanding of how the bill could benefit you, your family, or your business. 

As always, there’s still a long way to go. But as the summer draws to a close, this latest update from Washington, D.C. means that innovators, entrepreneurs, and sustainability advocates can start their fall with new opportunities to make an impact. We are looking forward to seeing the progress they will make.
 

Like your regular dose of good news? We’re shifting to a monthly newsletter to bring you a more in-depth look at the catalysts for optimism we’re seeing in impact investing and inclusive entrepreneurship. Look for Breaking Good on the second Friday of each month.

Kara Robinson Chamberlain is many things — a mother of two, a trained investigator, and an avid gym-goer — but if you consume a lot of true crime content, you might only know her as the survivor of a dramatic kidnapping and assault in 2002. Chamberlain, who was 15 at the time, escaped from her captor and was able to help the police catch him before he could harm anyone else. 

Today, on her eponymous TikTok account, Chamberlain shares her perspective on trauma and healing with millions of followers to address an important issue: how survivors like her are represented in the media, from true crime documentaries to Law and Order episodes to police press conferences. “There is no media standard for how victim's stories are told, how they're represented, how they're treated," she explained to People earlier this year. As a result, she’s been asked by producers and reporters to “show more emotion” or even change details in her story for a more sensational effect. “Survivors always need to be able to tell our own story, in our own words,” she emphasized in a recent podcast interview. “It’s our truth and our experiences.”

Along with fellow survivor Elizabeth Smart, she's produced an award-winning documentary and regularly works with detectives, case workers, and other front-line responders to help them engage with survivors in ways that empower without re-traumatizing. That's a case worth cracking. 

Partnering to Fight Inflation With Sustainability

Addressing inflated prices for gas and food generate a sector-defying ripple effect — so it’s no surprise that efforts to address both are bringing in multiple unlikely partners in service of both environmental and socioeconomic goals. To give just one example, a new partnership between Alaska Airlines and Microsoft aims to use carbon capture technology to convert emissions into sustainable jet fuel, lowering energy prices for weary travelers. On the food front, ag giants like Deere and Corteva are investing in climate-resilient farming methods to improve both supply and livelihoods, particularly in drought and flood-plagued areas around the world. 

A Just Transition for ESG

Staying Curious

A Human-Centered Approach to Justice

Tech entrepreneurs are tackling access to the justice system, a notorious stumbling block for people seeking paths out of cycles of poverty and incarceration. They’re about to get an important boost: Innovations in Justice Tech, a new fellowship program led by Village Capital, the AmFam Institute, and Dream.org, will connect a diverse group of these founders with investors seeking to put their capital into human-centered, tech-driven solutions to navigate the road to justice. These startups complement the growing work of nonprofits like Hope Foundation, which help returning citizens (and their families) reintegrate into society.

Kicking Back on Climate Change

Building a Blue Economy