Climate Change Solutions - December 7, 2021

View this newsletter online Subscribe Review EESI Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions! EESI is focused on waste this week: we have a three-part briefing series starting tomorrow that's all about garbage reduction! Briefings will focus on the climate impacts of producing building materials, plastics, and food, and how those impacts can be mitigated through policy. RSVP here. And if you can't wait to start learning about trash, check out our featured article on California's new law prohibiting manufacturers from using chasing arrows (♻) on non-recyclable products. In this issue, we also cover the challenges tribes are facing from climate change and their potential solutions with two articles on the White House Tribal Nations Summit and a House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis hearing. Additionally, the last two articles in our Federal Resilience Programs series are now up! Read about climate resilience work through the NOAA Cooperative Institutes and Mission: Iconic Reefs. Have a climate solution? Send tips to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff!   Headlines How Phony Chasing Arrows Were Run Out of California [7 min. read] The “chasing arrows” are a popular symbol found on plastic products and packaging. Despite its association with recyclability, the triangle with a number inside indicates only the plastic resin type used in the product. It does not necessarily mean that the product is recyclable, contains recycled material, or will be recycled after it goes in the recycling bin. EESI sat down with Nick Lapis, director of advocacy at Californians Against Waste, to discuss how California banned manufacturers from using chasing arrows on non-recyclable products, and what that means for waste in the state and across the country. [click for more]   White House Tribal Nations Summit Features New Initiatives, Opportunities for Climate Action [6 min. read] In November, the Biden-Harris Administration hosted the White House Tribal Nations Summit, unveiling new plans to integrate Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge intro federal decision making processes and highlighting other opportunities for tribes to build resilience to climate change[click for more] House Hearing Highlights Multiple Barriers to Accessing Tribal Climate Funding [4 min. read] As a follow-up to the White House Tribal Summit, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis held a hearing identifying barriers and solutions for tribes applying for, accessing, and deploying federal climate resilience funds.  [click for more]   Series: Federal Programs Advancing Climate Resilience   NOAA Cooperative Institutes [3 min. read] Cooperative Institutes, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but managed by consortia of top-rated academic and non-profit research institutions, host long-term research collaborations between NOAA and its partners. [click for more]   Mission: Iconic Reefs [4 min. read] Mission: Iconic Reefs, unveiled in December 2019, is a collaboration between NOAA, local restoration partners, and other federal and state agencies that aims “to restore seven ecologically and culturally significant coral reefs within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.”  [click for more]   On the Hill November 22 through December 3 saw a lull in Congressional activity around Thanksgiving; however, several bills regarding public lands and outdoor recreation were considered during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. Additionally, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the climate impacts of oil and gas leasing on public lands, and two bills related to climate and environment were introduced in the House. Notable bills introduced during this time include H.R.5958, the Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act, and S.3282, which would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to authorize grants for innovative water infrastructure technology. See EESI's full environmental and climate legislative trackers for November 22-26 and November 29-December 3. EESI News, Briefings, and Fact Sheets   New Podcast Episode! Planning for Climate Adaptation at the Regional Level [26 min. listen] Dan and Emma explore how climate adaptation is being done on the ground in communities across the United States. Through USDA Climate Hubs, communities can get the regionally-specific tools and resources they need to better prepare for future climate impacts. Our guests  include Dr. Emile Elias, the director of the Southwest Climate Hub, and Dr. Julian Reyes, the national Climate Hubs coordinator. [click for more]   Briefing: Recap of COP26: Key Outcomes and What Comes Next Video and written highlights are now available for the final briefing in our five-part briefing series on COP26, the year's international climate negotiations that took place in Glasgow in November. This briefing reviewed the key outcomes of COP26 and provided context and nuance to the main headlines coming out of the meeting. Panelists dove into takeaways from international, private sector, and local community perspectives.  [click for more] EESI Around Town   EESI's fossil fuel subsidies fact sheet was cited in an opinion piece in the Estes Park Trail-Gazette, a weekly newspaper in Estes Park, Colorado.   Upcoming Events   Briefing Series: Reduce and Reuse: How to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Building Materials, Plastics, and Food Join us for a briefing series about the climate impacts of producing building materials, plastics, and food. Panelists will explain the upstream greenhouse gas emissions generated from the production of these materials and discuss solutions designed to reduce those emissions at scale. RSVP for one or more of the briefings here.   Building Materials: From Production to Reuse Wednesday, December 8 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm The built environment uses an immense amount of carbon-intensive materials such as concrete and steel. Switching building materials to lower-carbon alternatives can reduce the climate impacts of the built environment, but first, systems must be put in place to assess and reduce the carbon intensity of materials. Panelists will discuss ways to reduce emissions and material waste in the built environment from construction and deconstruction. RSVP here.   The Climate Consequences of Plastics Thursday, December 9 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Plastic production is expected to account for an increasing portion of global oil consumption and its resulting greenhouse gas emissions as plastics become more ubiquitous worldwide. Panelists will discuss findings from Beyond Plastics’ new report, The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change; how emissions associated with plastic production affect communities across the country; and potential policy solutions. RSVP here.   Reducing Emissions by Reducing Food Waste Friday, December 10 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm While composting is a solution for downstream food waste management, upstream reduction of food waste and food waste diversion can be the first steps to reduce emissions and resources unnecessarily used across the sector. Panelists will discuss some strategies available to policymakers that could bolster food waste reduction and diversion efforts. RSVP here. 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!   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