Climate Change Solutions - January 19, 2021

Hello and welcome to another edition of Climate Change Solutions!

This week, we've broken down every climate and environment Congressional hearing in 2020, highlighted an innovative sustainable construction education program in Iowa, recapped Vice President-elect Harris's climate record in the Senate, and spoke with a public transit provider in California that puts sustainability first.

We also examined the current state of global emissions with help from scientist Dr. Saleem H. Ali in our latest podcast episode.

Last but not least, former intern and current EPA employee Savannah Bertrand reflects on her time with EESI in a heart-warming essay.

Also, be sure to tell Solutions editor Amber Todoroff your favorite story this week (and why) for a chance to be featured on our social media!

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Headlines A Breakdown of 2020 Climate and Environment Congressional Hearings [4 min. read] In 2020, standing committees in Congress convened a total of 79 hearings on climate and environmental topics. This was down from 134 hearings during the first year of the 116th Congress (2019), in part reflecting the disruptions caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. This past year’s hearings demonstrated that while 2020 brought profound challenges and crises, it also presented major opportunities to build a greener, more resilient, and more equitable society. Seizing these opportunities will be a crucial task for the new Congress. Click the image to use our interactive tool and get a deeper look at the hearings in 2020. [click for more]   City, State, and Community College Work Together to Build Sustainable Construction Workforce [4 min. read] The noise, hard hats, orange vests, and heavy machinery certainly make the 200 block of Newell Street in Waterloo, Iowa, seem like a construction zone. But a closer inspection reveals so much more: a working classroom where students learn the principles of building energy-efficient houses, and a partnership between a community college, the city council, and local businesses to increase housing and the local construction workforce. Continue reading to see how vacant lots in Iowa are bolstering the local workforce as well as residential energy efficiency efforts. [click for more]   Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris's Climate Record: A Focus on Justice [4 min. read] As California's junior senator during the 116th Congress, Kamala Harris sponsored four bills that focused on climate and environmental justice. Harris also co-sponsored eight resolutions and 24 bills aimed at limiting pollution, enhancing wildlife conservation, and addressing climate change. We've taken a closer look at the four bills she sponsored in this article. [click for more]   Q&A: Foothill Transit Team Discusses Sustainability Leadership, Federal Transportation Policy Opportunities [10 min. read] EESI sat down with the Foothill Transit Team, a Los Angeles-based transit provider that services the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, to discuss their pioneering sustainability work. Foothill Transit was the first transit provider in North America to put fast-charge electric buses on the roads and continues to embrace sustainability in their business practices. Read on to learn about other exciting initiatives like a double-decker electric bus project as well as policy ideas on how to scale up zero-emissions public transit across the United States. [click for more]

On the Hill EESI condemns the actions taken by rioters at the Capitol building on January 6. In a press release, EESI's Executive Director Daniel Bresette said, "The whole situation is immensely distressing. But the attack on Congress was not spontaneous; it was a culmination of events. Our political leaders must stop emboldening extremists by spreading conspiracy theories, lies, and disinformation. Our leaders must stop accentuating our differences and find ways to return civility to our politics. We will fail the tests of our biggest challenges—climate change, the pandemic, racial injustice—if we continue down this road of ignorance, division, and distrust. We need to take stock of what led us to yesterday’s chaos and tragedy and do everything we can to ensure it never happens again. America is better than this. We have to be." EESI's biweekly legislative tracker will begin in the next issue, February 2.

EESI News, Briefings, and Fact Sheets   Reflection: From EESI to Capitol Hill to the EPA: Former EESI Intern Reflects on Start to Green Career [2 min. read] A little over a year ago, Savannah Bertrand finished her fall semester policy internship at EESI. Looking back on the experience, she thinks that it was one of the best and most rewarding internships she ever participated in.  Continue reading for Savannah's full account. [click for more]   Podcast: Episode 5: Examining the Current State of Global Emissions with Dr. Saleem H. Ali [19 min. listen] This week, co-hosts Dan and Sydney sat down with Dr. Saleem H. Ali, member of the UN International Resource Panel, Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environment at the University of Delaware, and Senior Fellow at Columbia University to discuss the recently released U.N. Environment Programme Emissions Gap Report. Dr. Ali, who has been very involved with the emissions gap reports, discussed the latest report's findings and why they are important for policymakers. [click for more]

EESI Around Town   EESI was cited in an article by Investment Week.   EESI's energy storage factsheet was cited in an article by ESI Africa.   EESI's aviation factsheet was cited in an article by Boing Boing. Upcoming Events   Congressional Climate Camp Welcome to EESI's start-of-the-new-Congress Climate Camp! Ready to make a difference in climate legislation, but don't know where to start? EESI has you covered. We'll go over the basics of the legislative process, highlighting key areas and opportunities for achieving near-term and long-term carbon reductions through policy. The four-part series will begin at the end of January and be held once a month. We'll have more details on our website soon, but you can RSVP here to get updates and event links directly to your inbox! Invited speakers will discuss the following with attendees: January 29, 2pm-4pm ET: Budget, Appropriations, and Stimulus February: Policy to Decarbonize High-Emission Sectors March: Lessons Learned from Past Congresses and Current Public Attitudes on Climate April: Policy for Mitigation and Adaptation Win-Wins Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: Sydney O'Shaughnessy - Layout, Design, and Content Editor 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