Climate Change Solutions - December 21, 2021 | Newsletter

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Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

This is the final issue of the year - thank you for following our work in 2021! We look forward to sharing great articles, podcast, white papers, briefings, and more with you in 2022!

In this issue, we cover this year's Congressional hearings held on climate, environment, and energy topics.

We also compiled local climate solutions EESI covered during the year, along with all of our briefings. And EESI's three fall interns, Isabella, Roshni, and Valerie recently finished up and wrote a reflection article about their time with EESI.

Also check out our brand new fact sheet on fossil fuel externalities, videos from our recent briefing series on reducing waste, and this year's last episode of The Climate Conversation! This episode reviews this year's climate accomplishments with EESI staff members Dan O'Brien and Savannah Bertrand.

Have a climate solution? Send tips to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff!

Headlines
On the Hill in 2021: A Breakdown of Climate, Environmental, and Energy Congressional Hearings
[5 min. read]

Congress held a total of 187 hearings on climate, environmental, and energy topics in 2021. Using EESI’s coverage of legislation and Congressional hearings, this article analyzes the policies and issue areas Congress explored this year. At the end of the article, we provide a list of the 187 hearings included in this year’s hearing count. [click for more]

Solutions from Your District: Local and State Climate Action in 2021
[6 min. read]

EESI features climate solutions in action across the country through articles published in our biweekly newsletter, Climate Change Solutions. In 2021, EESI produced 25 articles covering geographically-specific case studies of local and regional climate action. Check to see if solutions from your district were covered this year! [click for more]

EESI Briefings Saw 114 Experts, 8 Elected Officials Showcase Climate Solutions in 2021
[6 min. read]

One of EESI’s primary educational tools is the Congressional briefing, where we invite policy experts and practitioners from around the country to discuss climate solutions in action and the policies and programs that make those solutions possible. Check out the 28 briefings we held this year on wide variety of climate-related issue areas. [click for more]

Q&A: EESI Fall Interns Reflect on a Semester in D.C.
[5 min. read]

For the first time since the pandemic started, all three fall EESI interns were based in Washington, D.C., though still participating in the internship remotely. Our interns, Isabella Eclipse, Valerie Nguyen, and Roshni Vora, took the opportunity to interview each other about their experiences in D.C. and working at EESI. [click for more]

On the Hill

December 6-17 Congress held two hearings on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing focused on federal efforts to address PFAS, and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on research and development for addressing PFAS contamination.

Other hearings included a House Committee on Administration hearing on how climate change is affecting the Smithsonian, and a Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing examining authorization for the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved S.46 last week, reauthorizing the Coral Reef Conservation Act. Additionally, two bills, S.3324 and H.R.6167, were reintroduced in Congress to standardize food date labels and reduce food waste.

See EESI's full environmental and climate legislative trackers for December 6-10 and December 13-17.
EESI News, Briefings, and Fact Sheets

	Fact Sheet: Climate, Environmental, and Health Impacts of Fossil Fuels [6 min. read] The use of fossil fuels--coal, oil, and natural gas--results in significant climate, environmental and health costs that are not reflected in market prices. These costs are known as externalities. This fact sheet provides a survey of some of the externalities associated with fossil fuels. [click for more]
	Briefing: Reduce and Reuse: How to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Building Materials, Plastics, and Food On December 8, 9, and 10, EESI held a three-part briefing series on reducing waste from the built environment, plastics, and food. Video replays and speaker slides are now available, and check back soon for highlight notes. [click for more]
	New Podcast Episode! S2:E8: 2021 Year in Review [28 min. listen] It’s the last episode of Season 2 of The Climate Conversation! This week, Dan Bresette and Emma Johnson look back on EESI’s 2021 briefings and projects to discuss favorites, lessons learned, and what’s coming up next year. They are joined by EESI Senior Associate Dan O’Brien and Policy Associate Savannah Bertrand. [click for more]

Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions:

Emma Johnson and Alison Davis - Layout, Design, and Content Editors

Amaury Laporte - Communications Director

As well as all EESI Staff, Interns, and Fellows who write and review content

And a special thanks to our Fall 2021 Interns:

Roshni Vora, ACES

Valerie Nguyen, Policy

Isabella Eclipse, Policy/Communications

We're so proud of what you've accomplished this semester and can't wait to see what's next!

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

Table Of Contents

Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: