The climate and economic transformation program brings together scholars, activists, and policymakers committed to solving the biggest challenge of our time: addressing the climate crisis in a transformational, equitable, and democratic manner. The US response to climate change thus far has been piecemeal and centered on neoliberal, market-based “solutions” that cannot meet the scale of the crisis. These neoliberal climate policies typically fail to consider distributive and procedural justice for communities of color historically harmed by the fossil fuel economy. Through this program’s two work streams—climate policy and industrial policy & trade—we advance a wide-ranging theory and practice of a holistic green transition away from neoliberalism.
Our climate policy work seeks to develop proactive investment and divestment approaches to a transition away from fossil fuels—emphasizing the crucial role of public intervention and public institutions in ensuring the transition is both equitable, orderly, and just. Our work foregrounds policies and paradigms that seek to both acknowledge and repair past racist and discriminatory policies that have harmed Black, brown, and Indigenous communities and systemically placed them on the frontlines of climate disaster. We undertake this work in meaningful collaboration with movement activists, climate advocates, and think tank partners.
Our industrial policy and trade work seeks to build a theory and practice of a distinctly American industrial policy—one that is democratically and effectively governed and financed, with the objective of reshaping industries with guardrails that advance equitable labor, environmental imperatives, corporate governance, and racial equity outcomes. The shift to an openly acknowledged industrial policy in turn requires rethinking the long-dominant neoliberal approach to trade policy.
The government is always practicing industrial policy, whether it acknowledges it or not. Our industrial policy and trade work seeks to build a theory and practice of how and when the government should directly shape markets to better serve Americans.
Explore our latest industrial policy work
The climate crisis is hitting communities across the United States with increasing impact. Our work on climate and economic transformation seeks to leverage the power of government to decarbonize and democratize the economy through equitable and democratic policy solutions.
Explore our latest climate policy work
Climate and Economic Transformation Staff
Saule Omorova
Senior Fellow, Industrial Policy and TradeAs a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, Saule Omarova researches the institutional, financial, and governance aspects of industrial policy, which includes exploring how public investment tools can be used to structure markets and shape industry dynamics in the public interest.
Lenore Palladino
Senior Fellow, Climate PolicyAs a fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, Lenore works on public policies related to corporate governance, labor, capital markets, and financial technologies.
Kate Aronoff
Fellow, Climate PolicyAs a Roosevelt Institute fellow, Kate Aronoff researches and writes about the transition away from fossil fuels, climate finance, and policy options for post-carbon welfare states.
Sameera Fazili
Fellow, Industrial Policy and TradeAs a fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, Sameera Fazili researches the intersection between place-based economic strategies and industrial policy, as well as lessons learned from her involvement in handling supply chain crises for the Biden administration, including in industries as varied as microelectronics, shipping, baby formula, and clean energy.
Diana Hernández
Fellow, Climate PolicyAs a fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, Dr. Diana Hernández conducts research at the intersection of energy, equity, housing and health.
Nathan Lane
Fellow, Industrial Policy and TradeAs a fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, Nathan Lane investigates what metrics and criteria can help guide the selection of industries for industrial policy support, as well as what modalities of economic intervention in markets have the firmest empirical support.