Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The US is pouring money into the green economy, and has spent almost $500 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to bolster the energy transition and domestic manufacturing. Is it enough to cause long-lasting change?
This week on Cleaning Up, Bryony Worthington sits down with Ethan Zindler, the Climate Counselor to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Ethan provides an insider's perspective on the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Treasury's new Climate Hub, and the department's evolving role in tackling the economic and financial implications of the climate crisis.
The discussion covers the IRA's potential impact, the challenges of communicating its complex tax incentives, and concerns around the legislation's political durability. Ethan also addresses the tensions between fossil fuel interests and clean energy priorities, as well as the Treasury's efforts to engage with international partners to ensure an equitable clean energy transition.
As the US grapples with the growing costs of natural disasters, this episode offers insights into how a key economic policymaking body is adapting to the climate emergency and the new geopolitics of the green energy transition.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live
Links:
• Overview of the Treasury's climate activities: home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/climate-change
• Cleaning Up with Dr Ma Jun: youtube.com/watch?v=Fu6giWzTxAY
• Cleaning Up with Dipender Saluja & Ion Yadigaroglu: youtube.com/watch?v=tUTPkszXs_Y
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome
04:22 - The Climate Hub
07:00 - The Inflation Reduction Act
09:00 - Improving Taxes
12:34 - Getting Money to the Right People
14:04 - Onshoring
15:50 - US vs China
17:30 - How Much Money Spent by IRA?
19:09 - IRA and the US Election
25:00 - Import Tariffs & EVs
31:08 - Leadership Circle
32:36 - Hurricanes & Insurance
38:10 - COP & International Cooperation
45:45 - Financial Sector Commitments
49:50 - US Mixed Srategy
52:15 - Access to Capital
55:05 - Outro
The US is pouring money into the green economy, and has spent almost $500 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to bolster the energy transition and domestic manufacturing. Is it enough to cause long-lasting change?
This week on Cleaning Up, Bryony Worthington sits down with Ethan Zindler, the Climate Counselor to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Ethan provides an insider's perspective on the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Treasury's new Climate Hub, and the department's evolving role in tackling the economic and financial implications of the climate crisis.
The discussion covers the IRA's potential impact, the challenges of communicating its complex tax incentives, and concerns around the legislation's political durability. Ethan also addresses the tensions between fossil fuel interests and clean energy priorities, as well as the Treasury's efforts to engage with international partners to ensure an equitable clean energy transition.
As the US grapples with the growing costs of natural disasters, this episode offers insights into how a key economic policymaking body is adapting to the climate emergency and the new geopolitics of the green energy transition.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live
Links:
• Overview of the Treasury's climate activities: home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/climate-change
• Cleaning Up with Dr Ma Jun: youtube.com/watch?v=Fu6giWzTxAY
• Cleaning Up with Dipender Saluja & Ion Yadigaroglu: youtube.com/watch?v=tUTPkszXs_Y
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome
04:22 - The Climate Hub
07:00 - The Inflation Reduction Act
09:00 - Improving Taxes
12:34 - Getting Money to the Right People
14:04 - Onshoring
15:50 - US vs China
17:30 - How Much Money Spent by IRA?
19:09 - IRA and the US Election
25:00 - Import Tariffs & EVs
31:08 - Leadership Circle
32:36 - Hurricanes & Insurance
38:10 - COP & International Cooperation
45:45 - Financial Sector Commitments
49:50 - US Mixed Srategy
52:15 - Access to Capital
55:05 - Outro
