How Sustainable Transportation Can Help End the Affordability Crisis — And Help Climate Champions Win

How Sustainable Transportation Can Help End the Affordability Crisis — And Help Climate Champions Win

May 19, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how sustainable transportation policies can address both the affordability crisis and climate change, featuring insights from Emmett Hopkins.

Affordability is the buzzword in American politics — and when it comes to transportation affordability, the policies that would give the most families the most immediate relief would also do the most to address the climate crisis. So why aren't things like fast, free buses, better connected sidewalks, and quick-build bike lanes sitting front and center of every politician's platform? And if they were, could it help climate champions across the country finally take power? Today on The Brake, we speak to Emmett Hopkins, transportation policy manager for the Climate and Community Institute, and one of the authors of a new report called Stop Greed, Build Green. Hopkins breaks down an agenda that could help save the planet and end the income inequality crisis — and why "Green Economic Populism" is so different than the predatory breed of populism that's claimed Washington right now, or the flawed "Bidenomic" approach that proceeded it.

People in this episode

Host: The Brake

Guest: Emmett Hopkins

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Climate and Community Institute, Bidenomic

Books & works: Stop Greed, Build Green

More episodes of The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast podcast page.