House Hearing Looks at State and Local Action to Combat Climate Change

On April 2, the House Energy Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change held a hearing on “State and Local Action to Combat Climate Change.” Elected state and local officials discussed initiatives they have taken to address the impacts of climate change in their communities. In addition to looking at state progress and successful policies supporting renewable energy, the hearing also served to discuss what needs to be done at the federal level to continue greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Currently, there is a consensus among a majority of states and cities that climate change is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. There is also recognition that embracing clean, renewable energy will create jobs and stimulate economic growth. In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chair Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) applauded state and local governments for their continuous efforts to combat climate change. But because of the magnitude of the challenge, Tonko noted that the need to work cooperatively is more important than ever. Not only will the federal government have to be a uniting, leading force among states, but it must also become a better partner in state and local efforts.

Following the Trump administration's announcement that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, U.S. states and localities have stepped up and taken on a strong leadership role in addressing climate change and its effects. Governors and mayors across America have been proposing new legislation and goals to make up for the inaction seen at the national level. This past March, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota announced a plan for his state to obtain 100 percent of its electricity from carbon free sources by 2050. In New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham set a similar goal but with the more ambitious deadline of 2045. Minnesota and New Mexico are just two of the latest states to have set zero-carbon emission goals and taken steps to implement new resilience efforts. Other such states include California, Hawaii, and Washington.

These regular announcements have served as a constant reminder to the rest of the world that there are states and cities in the United States that are actively trying to mitigate and prepare for the full effects of climate change. While U.S. states are taking an active role in addressing the climate crisis, there is a critical need for the federal government to become a better partner alongside state and local efforts to meet important goals. This includes creating a political environment in which local authorities can pursue more environmentally-friendly policies and obtain the funding they need to adopt technologies and standards that will make their communities more sustainable. In his testimony, Washington State Governor and presidential candidate Jay Inslee laid out some climate goals that states are trying to achieve and discussed what the federal government can do to further aid in these efforts.

One major goal is for states and localities to work towards a 100 percent carbon-free electrical grid. Time and time again, renewable energy has been proven to provide new job opportunities in both rural and urban areas as well as reduce the cost of electricity for consumers. Renewable energy technology has greatly improved, with costs dropping significantly (especially for solar and wind power). Batteries, which help make intermittent sources of renewable energy more viable by storing excess energy so it can be used at night or on windless days, are becoming cheaper, more efficient, and can hold larger stores of energy. Despite this progress, there is still much to improve. Continued federal funding for research and development is still needed to expand smart grids and battery capabilities.

Hearing participants also called for implementing transition zones, in which localities are able to introduce renewable energy jobs into the economy while also gradually phasing out oil and coal jobs, so that individuals are not left without jobs. Government can also play a role in creating the skilled and educated workforce needed to fill new renewable energy jobs. Employers in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector have been struggling to fill available positions. The federal government could help by providing more funding to apprenticeship programs and courses at community colleges.

Another state and local priority is the adoption of resilient infrastructure. The cost of inaction is enormous, especially as natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe because of climate change. As the 2018 report by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) states, for every $1 invested in mitigation measures, $11 can be saved in future disaster costs. By continuously adopting new and improved building codes, homes and corporate buildings can become more energy efficient and resilient to climate disasters, such as floods and hurricanes. It is also critical that the federal government continue to provide funding for the implementation of resilient infrastructure on a national scale. This includes setting stricter national building standards to ensure that key infrastructure is not located in flood zones and has the durability to withstand more frequent and severe hurricanes.

While coastal communities have suffered the most from climate change, as they experience more frequent and more intense hurricanes and rising sea levels, they are not the only communities that are being affected. Midwestern states have also seen an increase in extreme weather, particularly flooding. These effects are usually felt the most in impoverished and minority communities that are not receiving sufficient aid to recover.

One overarching message from state and local leaders is clear: the federal government needs to come to a cooperative, unanimous consensus about climate change. This includes not only the full embrace of renewable energy and resilient, sustainable practices, but an optimistic approach by federal political leaders that as a nation, we can tackle this global crisis. By fully acknowledging that climate change is occurring and its effects aren’t going away anytime soon, the country can focus on working together to combat climate change.

Author: Nicolette Santos