Climate Change Solutions

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

Earth Day is the perfect day to get caught up on EESI’s host of climate, energy, and environmental resources—from comprehensive summary notes of Congressional Climate Camp briefings to the latest podcast on how unprecedented wildfires are reshaping insurance markets.

Speaking of insurance, make sure your Earth Day checklist includes signing up for all of EESI’s upcoming Congressional briefings starting with Risky Business: Insurance in the Era of Climate Change on May 6. You can now find all our recent and upcoming transportation-related briefings–covering highways, transit, rail and more!–on our brand-new series page.

Today and every day, you can count on EESI as a resource to help you advance nonpartisan, science-based solutions to climate change, energy, and environmental challenges.

The Latest Solutions

Data Center Energy Needs Could Upend Power Grids and Threaten the Climate
[9 min. read]

Every hour, billions of data bytes flow into data center servers. Globally, in 2024, about 149 zettabytes–that is, 149 trillion gigabytes!–of information were created, captured, and copied. As these centers increase in complexity to handle artificial intelligence (AI) calculations, their energy and water consumption increase in parallel, endangering the clean energy transition. This article covers the environmental challenges posed by data centers and ways to improve the centers’ sustainability.

Greening Without Displacement: The USDA’s Urban Forestry Approach
[6 min. read]

This article surveys the Urban and Community Forestry Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, the only federal program that focuses on preserving and increasing urban green spaces. From tree planting in New Jersey to workforce development in Michigan, the program has supported work in all 50 states.

How Can Policymakers Protect Policyholders in a World on Fire?
[32 min. listen]

Home insurance is one of those things you need to have and hope to never need. But as risk from climate disasters increases, many homeowners are finding it more and more difficult to obtain an affordable policy. This is especially true in the American West, where wildfires are creating more uncertainty than insurance companies are willing to cover, forcing many homeowners to enroll in state-run insurance plans. Daniel and Alison sat down with Dr. Lisa Dale, director of the Climate and Society Masters program at the Columbia Climate School, for a conversation about how policymakers can help communities navigate the insurance crisis as it relates to wildfires.

On the Hill

Senate Ignites New Efforts to Tackle Wildfires: The Senate passed the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025 (S.160). Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the bill to improve aerial wildfire fighting through the purchase of excess military aircraft. A companion bill (H.R.956) was introduced in the House in February.

Marine Debris Bill Sails Through Committee: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed the Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act (S.216). The bill, led by Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), aims to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. The program works to accelerate federal response to marine pollution events, increase international cooperation on ocean cleanup, and drive plastic waste reduction and reuse.

Leveraging AI to Predict Extreme Weather: Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) reintroduced the Transformational Artificial Intelligence to Modernize the Economy (TAME) Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act (S.1378). If passed, the bill would leverage AI to improve forecasting of and response to wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, and extreme heat. Rep. Scott Franklin (R-Fla.) introduced a similar bill (H.R.2770) to increase the use of AI at NOAA to adapt to extreme weather events. Learn more about this topic by watching EESI’s briefing, Innovations in Weather Forecasting for a Changing Climate.

Republican Senators Seek to Tax High-Emissions Imports: Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reintroduced the Foreign Pollution Fee Act (S.1325). The bill is designed to incentivize U.S. trading partners to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions related to the production of fertilizer, building materials, and battery components while promoting efficient manufacturing in the United States.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative tracker for April 7-11 and April 14-18.

Upcoming Events

Risky Business: Insurance in the Era of Climate Climate
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EDT
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 406 and online

This briefing will explore Congress’s role in bolstering the long-term resilience, investability, and insurability of U.S. communities. It will review the basics of property insurance, and feature existing and emerging tools—from parametric insurance to climate endorsements—that are reshaping how insurance products can better serve communities. At this briefing, Woodwell Climate Research Center will also be launching a new report, Rebuilding Insurance for a Climate Future: A Policy Guide to Understand Tools, Address Inequities, and Find Solutions. Lunch will be provided starting at 11:45 a.m. RSVP here.

Next Stop: Sustainable Public Transit and Mobility
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT
Capitol Visitor’s Center Room SVC 208 and online

Each day, roughly 6,800 public transit providers across the United States carry millions of people in rural and urban communities to work, school, medical appointments, and grocery stores by bus, ferry, tram, or subway. This briefing will highlight federal programs and research that propel public transit forward in the United States. RSVP here.

Like Trains? Then Choo-Choose to Learn About Federal Rail Policy
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EDT
Rayburn House Office Building Gold Room (Room 2168) and online

This briefing will explore the past, current, and future role of rail in the U.S. transportation sector and highlight key rail programs under the surface transportation bill. Speakers will also describe opportunities to modernize railways through electrification, faster trains, track expansion, and safety improvements. RSVP here.

Economist Impact’s Sustainability Week U.S.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
All Day
Convene New York, 117 West 46th Street, New York, NY

Economist Impact’s 5th annual Sustainability Week U.S. will explore how companies can use clean energy, smart technologies, and strategic investments to promote economic growth and environmental responsibility. With more than 150 speakers, 500 in-person attendees, 50 case studies, and 30 top energy companies, the 5th annual Sustainability Week U.S. presents original insights and practical solutions. EESI is a media partner for this event. Register here (Climate Change Solutions readers benefit from a discount code, MPSWUS20).

Shifting Gears: Policies for a More Sustainable Highway System
Friday, July 13, 2025
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT
Online only

This briefing will highlight how the country’s highways can be maintained in the context of a changing climate, from increasing preparedness for extreme weather events to building out electric vehicle charging corridors. Panelists will highlight opportunities for federal policy to help relocate highways to reconnect communities, use cool pavement and climate-smart building materials, and manage toxic runoff from roads. The briefing will also identify opportunities to optimize federal funding to improve the way the country’s highways connect people. RSVP here.

And don’t forget about our 2025 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum coming up on Thursday, July 24, 2025!

In Case You Missed It

Highlight Notes Now Available | Navigating Climate Information for Effective Policy-Making and Understanding the Budget, Reconciliation, and Appropriations

Detailed summary notes are now available for our first and second Congressional Climate Camp briefings on climate data and the congressional budget process, respectively.

Briefing Video Now Available | Towards Healthier Outcomes in Surface Transportation

This briefing explored the nexus of transportation, public health, and climate change. Panelists described potential negative health outcomes stemming from issues like air pollution and road crashes. The briefing also provided policy, process, and funding solutions that weave public health considerations into the surface transportation reauthorization process in a way that benefits both people and climate. Click here for the full video, along with speaker presentation materials.

Latest Media Coverage

The Los Angeles Post cited EESI’s article on electric vehicle (EV) challenges and opportunities in a piece about EV affordability in the United States.

And one final note, EESI would like to extend a huge thank you to Molly Brind’Amour for leading the charge on this newsletter in recent years! We wish Molly the best of luck in her next chapter as she moves on from the EESI team.

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Thanks to all EESI staff, interns, and fellows who contribute to Climate Change Solutions!

About EESI

EESI is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing science-based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges to achieve a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. Founded on a bipartisan basis by members of Congress, EESI has been informing policymakers about the benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental conservation since 1984.

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