Climate Change Solutions - April 14, 2020

Welcome to Climate Change Solutions for April 14!

EESI would like to take a moment to thank you for your continued interest in environmental issues and climate change solutions during this tumultuous time. We hope all of our readers are staying safe and healthy while taking the necessary precautions to flatten the curve.

We want to reassure you that our work to advance climate and clean energy policies is still underway and we continue to move forward with our mission, we are also reflecting on our work and what we might learn from the response to the coronavirus outbreak.

While COVID-19 has dominated the headlines, significant climate and environment news include:

• A Kansas Court ruling made rooftop solar more affordable for residents
• Mexico is also bringing sustainable development goals to life with solar
• New research shows robins are migrating earlier and nightingales are evolving to have shorter wings due to climate change
  • And Norwegians are building hotels for threatened birds called kittiwakes
• The Upper Mississippi is the "Most Endangered River" of 2020
• A new study helps improve the accuracy of future climate change predictions

And don't forget: Earth Day is on April 22! Earth Day 2020 signifies the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the beginning of the modern environmental movement. This year's theme is Climate Action. Here are some ways to take climate action at home to make every day an Earth Day:

1. Attend a virtual Earth Day event.
2. Reduce your food waste by composting at home! Get started here!
3. Join a digital citizen science effort to measure plastic and air pollution.
4. Take part in an Earth Day Challenge (happening every day of April)!

Love our work? Have a climate solution? Reach out to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff with tips, gossip, or just to say hi!

Video Short: EESI Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! (1970-2020) EESI is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, symbolizing the start of the modern environmental movement. EESI was founded as a nonprofit in 1984, and became one of the first organizations to declare addressing climate change a "moral imperative."   Headlines Experts Highlight Living Shoreline Benefits, Discuss Regulation and Permitting Solutions Coastlines are increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change. Living shorelines can help protect properties and wildlife habitat. [click for more]   Winners of American-Made Challenges Advance Ocean Monitoring and Renewable Energy Innovation The Department of Energy and NOAA's joint Ocean Observing Prize promotes projects that can collect and share ocean data using renewable power. [click for more]   Localized climate data: A critical tool for decision-makers From the coasts of Washington to the shores of Lake Ontario in New York, efforts are underway to analyze, interpret, and visualize data to better understand how climate change is impacting their region. [click for more]

On the Hill On March 27th, Congress passed and the president signed into law a far-reaching $2 trillion spending package addressing the COVID-19 crisis. While originally scheduling a return April 20th, bicameral Congressional leadership has announced the earliest members will return is May 4. Lawmakers will be working towards passing COVID-19 related spending packages via pro-forma sessions until then. While we wait for more news to bring you from "On the Hill," EESI has been looking back on various environment and climate related legislation since the beginning of the 116th Congress. Check out our highlights of data and agricultural Congressional actions below:   Data Needs in a Changing Climate: Highlights from the 116th Congress As the climate changes, scientists and policymakers continually require up-to-date data to understand Earth processes and inform decision-making. [click for more]   116th Congress Pursues Climate Solutions for Agriculture After hearing from farmers and researchers, Congress introduced multiple bills aimed at increasing the agricultural sector’s resilience and sustainability. [click for more]

EESI Briefings, News and Fact Sheets   Commentary: Reflecting on Climate Change Solutions During the Coronavirus Pandemic EESI's Executive Director Daniel Bresette discusses the lessons learned from the COVID-19 response and how those lessons should inform the actions taken to address climate change, before it's too late. [click for more]   Briefing: Localizing Sea Level Rise Projections for Decision-Makers EESI's first Climate Adaptation Data Week briefing featured speakers from the Washington Coastal Resilience Project discussing the science behind bringing sea-level rise predictions to the local level as well as community activities that help develop comprehensive coastal climate adaptation plans. [click for more]   Reflections: Planes for Trains: My First Two Long-Distance Train Trips EESI's Dan O'Brien discusses his decision to quit flying to reduce his carbon footprint. [click for more]

EESI Around Town   EESI's high speed rail fact sheet was cited in a Green Car Reports article on battery-powered electric trains.   EESI was cited in The Gainesville Sun in an article discussing nationwide response to COVID-19 and climate.   EESI's commercial aviation fact sheet was cited in an article by the Financial Post discussing COVID-19 impact on airline emissions.   Upcoming Events Make sure to sign-up for EESI's Climate Data and Adaptation briefing mini-series happening this week! RSVP here to register in advance or just tune in every day at noon (EDT) to watch at www.eesi.org/livecast. Wednesday, April 15 | 12 PM: Cultural Heritage and Climate Change, featuring Dr. Marcy Rockman, ICOMOS-IPCC Scientific Coordinator for the Climate Change and Heritage Working Group and Climate Researcher with Co-Equal Thursday, April 16 | 12 PM: Bridging the Gap between Science and Decision-making, featuring Dr. Amy Snover, Climate Impacts Group and NW Climate Adaptation Science Center, University of Washington Friday, April 17 | 12 PM: Data to Inform Participatory Planning Initiatives, featuring Mary Austerman, New York Sea Grant   Coastal Resilience Series: Alaska Date April 21 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Online Only Briefing on scientific developments and policy initiatives that are helping protect Alaskan ecosystems and communities from erosion, sea level rise, and other coastal hazards, as part of EESI's regional coastal adaptation series.    2020 Congressional Clean Energy EXPO and Policy Forum July 30 9:30 am - 3:30 pm Rayburn HOB Foyer and Room 2168 (Gold Room) The 23rd Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum will bring together 30-40 businesses, trade associations, and government agencies to showcase renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.  The bipartisan House & Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses are the EXPO's honorary co-hosts.   Rescheduled--Biogas: Driving the U.S. Circular Economy September 10 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Rayburn HOB Room 2168 (Gold Room) Held in conjunction with the American Biogas Council, experts will discuss the role biogas systems play in industrial models that "repurpose, reuse, and recycle."   Environmental and Energy Study Institute  Daniel Bresette, Executive Director   EESI is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus to provide timely information and develop innovative policy solutions that set us on a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy path.   www.eesi.org                 CFC #10627