Climate Change Solutions

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

EESI’s signature Congressional Climate Camp briefing series continues tomorrow with Clean Manufacturing in America. Join us at 2:30 pm in Capitol Visitor Center SVC 210 and RSVP to receive the briefing slides and highlight notes.

In the first episode of season nine of The Climate Conservation podcast, we dig deep into U.S. Nature4Climate’s recent poll that found strong, bipartisan support for natural climate solutions. In addition, we are re-featuring a variety of past articles and briefings on all types of nature-based solutions. Nature-based solutions are actions that can be taken to protect and manage land and ecosystems that benefit society.

February and March also mark the beginning of our Hill meeting season. We are excited to meet with Senate and House offices to hear more about your priorities. To set a time to meet, reach out to Molly Brind’Amour.

The Latest Solutions

Podcast: Polling Shows the Bipartisan Nature of Natural Climate Solutions
[25 min. listen]

How many issues can you think of that 94% of U.S. voters agree on? Probably not very many. But a poll commissioned by U.S. Nature4Climate in 2024 revealed that 94% of voters across the United States support the expansion of natural climate solutions in public policy. To kick off season nine of The Climate Conversation podcast, co-hosts Daniel Bresette and Alison Davis sat down with the bipartisan pollsters who led the survey, Lori Weigel of New Bridge Strategy and Dave Metz of FM3 Research. [click for more]

Briefing: Maximizing the Impact of Natural Climate Solutions

This briefing highlighted how natural climate solutions like forest regrowth and cover cropping, bolstered by carbon markets, can increase carbon sequestration while adding valuable ecosystem benefits. [click for more]

Briefing: Cities Leading the Way on Nature-Based Solutions

The focus was on cities in this briefing, which zoomed in on how small- and medium-sized cities are implementing nature-based solutions to combat climate change and build resilience. [click for more]

Article: Growth in Support for Natural Climate Solutions
[5 min. read]

According to research from U.S. Nature4Climate, natural climate solutions are more popular than ever. This article digs deeper into public opinion polling on the topic, and looks at how to implement these solutions. [click for more]

Briefing: The Science Behind Carbon Markets

At this event, speakers from research, advocacy, and government discussed how to build robust, science-based carbon markets. Carbon markets are one way of valuing the carbon sequestration benefits of natural climate solutions. [click for more]

Article: New Guide Helps Decision-Makers Adopt Natural Climate Solutions
[6 min. read]

This article details U.S. Nature4Climate’s “Decision-Makers Guide to Natural Climate Solutions,” a resource intended to provide strategies for implementing natural climate solutions and discuss the potential of these solutions. [click for more]

Article: Laying the Groundwork for a Better, Cleaner Public School System with Green Roofs
[4 min. read]

This article highlights how green roofs, which have soil and vegetation incorporated into them, can serve as a nature-based solution that decreases building emissions, regulates temperature, and reduces energy costs. (Photo credit: Jaysin Trevino via Flickr) [click for more]

On the Hill

Senate Leads for Fire Research: Sens. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) reintroduced the Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act (S.647) to establish wildland fire research centers at universities across the country. Specifically, the centers would work to develop region-specific modelling and technology to support community fire management. EESI explored other wildfire risk and management tools on this episode of The Climate Conversation podcast.

House Aims to Facilitate Native Vegetation at Federal Facilities: Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and David Joyce (R-Ohio) reintroduced the Building Native Habitats and Federal Facilities Act (H.R.1500) to promote the incorporation of native plant species into landscaping planning for federal buildings. Under this bill, increased use of native vegetation would also support pollinators and wildlife, as well as provide ecosystem services such as flood mitigation.

Congress Has Great Plans for the Great Lakes: Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) reintroduced the bipartisan and bicameral Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025 (S.528). The GLRI supports Great Lakes states, tribes, and communities with funding for projects that address issues like habitat loss, agricultural water pollution, and invasive species. The bill would provide an annual $500 million for the program over five years. Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio) introduced the bill’s House counterpart (H.R.284) in January.

Helping Homeowners Lower Utility Bills and Live More Comfortably: Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), alongside Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), James Moylan (R-Guam), and Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.) reintroduced the Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act (H.R.1355) to reauthorize the Weatherization Assistance Program and establish the Weatherization Readiness Program. The two programs would promote household energy efficiency while lowering energy bills.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for February 10-14 and February 17-21.

Upcoming Events

Ready to make a difference in climate policy? But not sure where to start? You won’t want to miss EESI’s start-of-the-new-Congress briefing series, Climate Camp. We will go over the basics of the legislative process, highlighting key areas and opportunities for climate mitigation and adaptation policy. The remaining briefings in this series are:

Clean Manufacturing in America
Wednesday, February 26
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST
Capitol Visitor Center, SVC 210 and online
RSVP here

The Process and Path Forward for a Bipartisan Surface Transportation Bill
Thursday, March 13
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and online
RSVP here

In Case You Missed It

Briefing Video Now
Available | The Colorado River

During our Colorado River briefing, panelists discussed the potential of federal policy to support stakeholders in the West as they battle drought and water stress through water conservation, measurement, and allocation. Click here to watch the full briefing and download the speakers’ presentation materials.

Briefing Video Now
Available | Understanding the Budget,
Reconciliation, and Appropriations

In our budget briefing, panelists explained the processes, rules, and norms that underpin the budget, reconciliation, and appropriations debates happening right now on Capitol Hill. Click here to watch the full briefing and download the speakers’ presentation materials.

Latest Media Coverage

Fast Company quoted EESI President Daniel Bresette in an article about how the clean tech sector is rebranding itself as a national security imperative in response to recent actions by the Trump Administration.
EESI’s fossil fuels overview was cited by Green Car Reports in an article about proposals to end the electric vehicle (EV) tax credit and impose a federal EV tax at the point of sale.
EESI provided background information for an Associated Press article about the impact of the federal funding freeze on rural clean energy projects.

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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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