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3/4/2022

READOUT: Virtual Roundtable on State and Local Efforts to Address Climate Change | U.S. Department of the Treasury

READOUT: Virtual Roundtable on State and Local Efforts to
Address Climate Change
March 3, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury convened a virtual roundtable,
“The Climate Transition: Federal Policy and State and Local Government Best Practices.” In
opening remarks, Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen highlighted the Departmentʼs
expansive work to support states, localities, and communities across the country in fostering
resilience to the impacts of climate change, advancing the transition to a net zero economy,
and enabling communities to benefit from the economic opportunities embedded within that
transition. White House Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch
Landrieu followed Secretary Yellenʼs remarks with an overview of the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Lawʼs once-in-a-generation investment in resilient infrastructure. Climate Counselor to the
Secretary John Morton then moderated a panel with senior Administration o icials to discuss
the whole-of-government e ort to support states, localities, and communities in addressing
climate change.
In the a ernoon, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance Nellie Liang engaged
with a geographically diverse group of state and local leaders, as well as federal partners, to
discuss key issues facing governments in funding and financing the transition to a net-zero
economy. Under Secretary Liang stressed the important role of municipal leaders in
responding to the e ects of climate change, including addressing the resilience of public
infrastructure and mitigating negative climate impacts like sea level rise, wildfires, and storm
damage. Under Secretary Liang urged state and local governments to identify the risks that
climate change may pose to their communities in the short and longer term, communicate
these risks to the public, and incorporate these risks into e orts to build and maintain
climate-resilient infrastructure.
Participants discussed the steps that state and local governments are taking to incorporate
climate data into municipal capital planning processes; develop innovative tools and policies
to finance climate mitigation and transition projects; and disclose climate-related financial
risks to municipal market participants. Treasury will disseminate lessons learned and best
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0630

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3/4/2022

READOUT: Virtual Roundtable on State and Local Efforts to Address Climate Change | U.S. Department of the Treasury

practices developed by state and local governments, and plans to convene municipal market
participants to further support the advancement of innovative policy at the state and local
levels.
A fact sheet on Treasuryʼs work to support states, localities, and communities in the climate
transition is available.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0630

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