Climate Change Solutions - June 21, 2022 | Newsletter

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Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

Today is the first day of summer, and it's already hot. Beat the heat by watching our briefing on policies and practices to address extreme heat this coming Friday (June 24). You can also read this issue's featured Q&A on the human health effects of extreme heat with Paul Schramm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is helping communities prepare for more frequent heat waves.

This issue also includes articles on natural climate solutions, green roofs, and forest management for wildfire mitigation. Keep reading to check those out! And you won't want to miss our briefing on offshore wind energy on June 29.

Last but not least, Molly Brind'Amour joined EESI today as a policy associate. Welcome to the team, Molly!

Have a climate solution? Send tips to Savannah Bertrand!

Headlines
Q&A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Response to Extreme Heat
[6 min. read]

To go along with our June 24 briefing on extreme heat, EESI spoke with Paul Schramm at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss the human health effects of extreme heat. Schramm shared tools, plans, and awareness campaigns—all designed to help communities and their health departments increase resilience to heat. [click for more]

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

Climate measures that harness the power of nature are known as "natural climate solutions." U.S. Nature4Climate, a non-profit and non-partisan organization, developed a new guide for decision makers to chart a path forward for effective planning and implementation of natural climate solutions. [click for more]

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

Green roofs provide climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits which can protect human health, especially for children. Federal funding dedicated to building green roofs on schools would be a winning investment for students, schools, communities, climate, and the environment. [click for more]

Q&A: Learning from the Past to Chart the Future of Fire in Western Forests
[6 min. read]

Fire is not exclusively a destructive force in the forest. EESI sat down with Dr. Ryan Haugo at The Nature Conservancy to discuss ecologically-focused forest management practices whereby fire restores the landscape rather than destroying it. Check out our recent briefing on wildfires, too! [click for more]

On the Hill

The House Agriculture Committee continued to hold hearings ahead of the 2023 Farm Bill. EESI is tracking the climate, environmental, and energy highlights of these hearings in our 2023 Farm Bill hearing tracker.

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis held a hearing, Turning the Tide for Ocean Climate Action: Unleashing the Climate Benefits of Our Blue Planet. The hearing occurred during Capitol Hill Ocean Week, where EESI’s Executive Director Daniel Bresette moderated a panel discussion on "Wind, Water, and Waves: Marine and Great Lakes Renewable Energy." For even more on offshore wind energy, check out our upcoming briefing on June 29.

The bipartisan South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021 (S.66), became law and will establish a federal task force to research and create an action plan to prevent harmful algal blooms in Florida. Another notable bill, the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2021 (H.R.2773), passed the House. The bill would provide states, territories, and tribes with funding to conserve and restore wildlife and plant species, while prioritizing those that are threatened and endangered.

See the full environment and energy legislative trackers for June 6-10 and June 13-17.

EESI News and Briefings

Briefing Video Available: Wildfires

Billions of dollars are spent fighting wildfires every year, and the cascading economic, health, and societal impacts of wildfires are enormous. Panelists discussed policies and practices that would allow the United States to reduce the overall risk of wildfires. In case you missed it, the webcast is now available! [click for more]

Briefing Video Available: Pathways to Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture, or farming in sync with the local environment and climate, produces multiple economic, climate, and societal benefits. Panelists discussed how federal policies can incentivize and invest in regenerative agriculture. The webcast is now available! [click for more]

Issue Brief Update: Commercial Aviation Emissions

EESI's issue brief on the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector is one of our most popular and frequently cited reports. This 2022 update incorporates the latest statistics and new graphics and tables to highlight changes in the field. [click for more]

Upcoming Events

Briefing Series: Living With Climate Change

Extreme Heat
Friday, June 24
12:00pm - 1:30pm

Across the country, the number of days per year with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit is increasing, and heat causes more deaths than any other type of weather event. In April 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the first Department of Labor program to protect workers from the impacts of extreme heat. Additional steps are needed to reduce the risk of dangerously hot conditions and increase community resilience to heat. Panelists will discuss ways that built and natural infrastructure can reduce temperatures, steps to protect outdoor and warehouse workers, and how to address extreme heat without significantly increasing greenhouse gas emissions. RSVP here.

Briefing Series: Scaling Up Innovation to Drive Down Emissions

Offshore Wind
Wednesday, June 29
1:00pm - 2:30pm

In March 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration announced an interagency goal of deploying 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030—an extraordinary increase from the 42 megawatts of offshore wind currently operating in the United States. Meeting this goal will require a rapid and historical deployment of offshore wind energy that has the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs, spur the economy, and provide renewable energy to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. During this briefing, panelists will discuss opportunities, challenges, and considerations for scaling up offshore wind energy in the United States, as well as the policies that could support such a ramp-up. RSVP here.

Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Forum (EXPO 2022)
Monday, July 25
1:00pm - 5:00pm

EESI and the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) Caucuses invite you to join us for the 25th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Forum (EXPO 2022), to be held online. The EXPO will showcase technology and policy solutions to today’s climate and energy use challenges.

High-level speakers will share findings and innovations to mitigate climate change, improve the economy, build resilience, and protect U.S. energy and national security interests. RSVP here.

EESI Around Town

EESI has officially launched the Beneficial Electrification Toolkit with our partners at the Beneficial Electrification League! Check out the press release here and explore the Toolkit for yourself at betoolkit.org.

EESI’s Executive Director Daniel Bresette moderated a panel discussion during Capitol Hill Ocean Week on "Wind, Water, and Waves: Marine and Great Lakes Renewable Energy."

The Lewiston Sun Journal cited EESI's fossil fuel subsidies fact sheet.

Thanks to Savannah Bertrand (Newsletter Editor), Emma Johnson and Alison Davis (Layout and Design Editors), Amaury Laporte (Content Editor), and all EESI staff, interns, and fellows who contribute to 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

Climate Change Solutions - June 21, 2022

Featuring content on extreme heat, wildfire mitigation, and natural climate solutions

Table Of Contents

Thanks to Savannah Bertrand (Newsletter Editor), Emma Johnson and Alison Davis (Layout and Design Editors), Amaury Laporte (Content Editor), and all EESI staff, interns, and fellows who contribute to content.