In the middle of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt founded the Civilian Conservation Corps, a group responsible for hiring hundreds of thousands of white men to develop trails and build infrastructure that is still standing today. Now, Democrats want to create a similar, but more divers, group to build a new Corps to help the economy recover from the pandemic and fight climate change at once. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna has the details on the plan for a Civilian Climate Corps.

Climate change is driving temperatures higher across the world, and making heatwaves in the country increasingly frequent. The record temperatures are a risk for millions during hot months, and in most of the country, workers have no legally enforced protections from heat stress. Now, the Biden administration has decided to step in. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports on the administration’s plan to tackle heat stress protections, and the challenges ahead.

President Biden’s push for an electric future requires a dramatic surge in demand for minerals like copper and zinc. But in order to get these minerals within our borders, the administration may need to open protected lands for mining, and that means building a road to remote site in Alaska that’s near the northernmost point of the mountain range that stretches to the American Rockies. Today, Adam Federman reports on a road project right in the middle of President Biden’s environmental dilemma. Do you listen to a POLITICO podcast? Can’t miss an episode of POLITICO Energy? We want to hear from you! Take part in our 2021 podcast survey and provide valuable feedback on your favorite POLITICO podcast. Tell us what you like or what you would like to see in the future from the POLITICO Audio team! Your responses will help us improve our offerings and help us better tailor our podcast content to fit your needs. Find the survey at politico.com/podsurvey.

This summer, one of Exxon’s top lobbyists broke the first rule of lobbying: don’t give away the game plan, especially to an undercover environmentalist. Since the dramatic interview aired on British TV, House Democrats have been investigating whether American oil giants’ have deployed a disinformation campaign casting doubt on the science on climate change and their climate commitments. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre, on what could come out of this investigation. Do you listen to a POLITICO podcast? Can’t miss an episode of POLITICO Energy? We want to hear from you! Take part in our 2021 podcast survey and provide valuable feedback on your favorite POLITICO podcast. Tell us what you like or what you would like to see in the future from the POLITICO Audio team! Your responses will help us improve our offerings and help us better tailor our podcast content to fit your needs. Find the survey at politico.com/podsurvey.

After marathon committee markups, the Democrats’ reconciliation package made it out of two huge. Committees unscathed: Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. But, what exactly made it through, and does it stand a chance in the Senate? POLITICO’s Alex Guillen and Kelsey Tamborrino report.

American companies have spent months promoting their climate pledges and their environmental commitments. But now, with the reconciliation bill tagging on big tax hikes to climate proposals and possibly threatening to hurt bottom lines, they face the real test of whether they'll stand by their climate plans over how much they really back their climate plans is on. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains the companies’ dilemma.

Last week, President Biden announced the nomination of Willie Phillips to the vacant seat at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If confirmed, Phillips’ vote could finally tip the scales at the commission in favor of the Democrats, and potentially help enact the president’s ambitious green agenda. But POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse reports that not all environmentalists believe Phillips was the right pick for the position.

House Democrats outlined hundreds of billions of dollars in climate and energy initiatives for their portion of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, including a national clean electricity program and a national green bank, funding the replacement of lead water pipes and building out the country’s electric vehicle infrastructure. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna reports.

President Joe Biden said on Thursday he would nominate Washington, D.C., utility regulator Willie Phillips to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse reports.

The summer of 2021 is changing the way Canadians think about climate change, but both main parties are struggling to define their message — and uphold Canada's international commitments. POLITICO’s Zi-Ann Lum explains.

Hurricane Ida has left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power. The damage and frustration across the state has put a spotlight on Louisiana's biggest utility company, Entergy. POLITICO’s Catherine Morehouse explains the problems that power grids like Entergy’s have in preparing for future disasters like Ida.

Hurricane Ida’s lashing of Louisiana is supercharging a fight in Washington over spending tens of billions of dollars to protect the U.S. from future storms. POLITICO’s Zack Colman explains.

With the Senate’s infrastructure bill waiting on the House floor and both parties ready to begin discussing a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, Democrats are hoping to get many of President Biden’s priorities across the finish line. And today, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna reports that includes a big part of the administration’s climate goals.

Scientists have known for a long time that climate change affects natural disasters. But now a new branch of science claims to be able to pinpoint how much responsibility climate change holds for specific events within weeks of the disasters taking place. Today, POLITICO’s Karl Mathiesen discusses how attribution science works, and how it can help prepare cities and countries in the face of a changing climate.

Presidential candidates follow certain traditions: eggs at a New Hampshire diner, ice cream on a hot summer day… and support for ethanol if they’re campaigning in Iowa. But once a candidate gets to the White House, a complicated reality will dawn on them: keeping both oil refiners and corn producers happy is an almost impossible task. Today, POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino, on how the Biden White House is trying to balance both interests and manage the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The president wants farmers to help fight climate change by joining carbon capture and sequestration programs. The problem? Most of the requirements for these programs are online, and thousands of farmers lack broadband access at their farms. Today, POLITICO’s Tatyana Monnay explores the internet barrier keeping farmers from helping fight climate change.

The House comes back into session today to deal with a packed agenda that includes both the massive Senate-passed infrastructure bill and an even bigger budget resolution. But the future of both bills is threatened by a standoff between House leadership, progressives and the White House who all want significant climate action and moderates who fear the price tag is just too big. Today, POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder explains the challenges ahead for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in getting her caucus in line.

Water management has been a hot potato issue in California for many, many years. But with massive wildfires burning through the state right as a mega-drought hits the West, the Biden administration and top state officials are scrambling to come up with solutions. Today, POLITICO’s Debra Kahn and Annie Snider explain the complicated dynamics at play, and why the Biden administration is not putting its water management plan into motion yet.

Some scientists looking for clean energy solutions have spent years researching the capabilities of hydrogen. Earlier this month, the Senate included funding for clean hydrogen technologies in hopes that it will be part of America’s net-zero emissions future. But is hydrogen actually net zero? Today, POLITICO’s Matthew Choi explains how complicated this question is.

When the executive director of the Sierra Club abruptly left late last week, many wondered what was going on behind the scenes at the storied environmental organization. Today, POLITICO’s Zack Colman has some answers, and they get at the core of Sierra Club founder John Muir’s racial legacy and memory.

The Colorado River is a critical water source for millions of people in both cities and farms across seven states and Mexico. But extremely dire temperatures in the last decades are now set to force some states to cut their use of the river for water access. Today, POLITICO’s Annie Snider explains the extreme conditions brought to the river by climate change, and the federal government’s extreme measures to protect it.

Marijuana production is booming in the US as more states continue to move towards legalization or decriminalization. But cannabis production can take a lot of energy depending on where it’s grown. Today, POLITICO’s Natalie Fertig, on the environmental impact of cannabis, and how a federal legalization could help lower it.

The UN’s report on the state of climate change shook most of America’s politicians and leaders. But despite the dire warnings, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna and Ben Lefebvre report that most Republicans opted to deflect and punt on the question.

Carbon capture and sequestration is a technology that can suck the carbon out of high-emitting facilities and bury it underground. Sounds like a great way to fight climate change, right? In reality, the technology is more complicated and far more controversial. Today, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre explains why some climate-friendly senators are willing to deploy billions of dollars to make CCS happen even though some environmental groups oppose it.

As the Senate finally voted to pass the massive infrastructure bill, Democrats quickly moved on to their next big item: the details of the even bigger reconciliation package. The $3.5 trillion package is expected to jumpstart Congress’ fight against climate change, but it will take time to get all Democrats on board. POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna has the details.