Climate Change Solutions - July 7, 2020

• Minnesota sues Exxon Mobil, accusing the company of making dishonest claims about the effects of climate change
• New studies indicate climate change will have an adverse effect on most fish, but might provide advantages to Adelie penguins and wolf spiders
• French President Emmanuel Macron pledges $16.9 billion to fight climate change
• Six million homes in the United States are at flood risk, up 70 percent from FEMA estimates, according to a new report from First Street Foundation
• and Zac Efron hosts a new Netflix series on climate solutions called "Down to Earth"

From June 23 to July 1, 2020, 13 bills were referred to committees in the Senate and 29 in the House to address environmental and energy issues. In addition to the introduction of environmentally relevant legislation, the House reported on one bill and the Senate passed two bills.

Highlights

On June 30 the House of Representatives' Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released a 538-page majority staff report detailing a legislative framework for climate action. The full title of the report is: Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and Healthy, Resilient, and Just America. Read EESI's analyses of the report in the articles below, and don't miss our briefing analyzing the report July 14!

The Moving Forward Act, (H.R.2) passed the House on July 1, which would provide $1.5 trillion for infrastructure projects. The Moving Forward Act includes the INVEST in America Act, a surface transportation bill which draws on many of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis's recommendations. Read EESI's write-up of the INVEST Act here.

See EESI's full environmental legislative tracker for June 23 - July 1.

	Nature-Based Recommendations in the Climate Crisis Report Nature-based solutions are highly effective climate resilience measures that can generate environmental, economic, and social co-benefits, including carbon sequestration. The Solving the Climate Crisis report calls for these benefits to be put into action across the country, signaling a commitment to a cleaner, greener, more inclusive future. [click for more]
	Energy Efficiency Recommendations in the Climate Crisis Report Energy efficiency plays a vital role in the fight against climate change, allowing the United States to rely less on fossil fuels as the country transitions towards renewable energy. The Select Committee's report recognizes that increased energy efficiency creates new jobs for thousands of Americans and is the most cost-effective method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [click for more]