Climate Change Solutions - May 26, 2020

Welcome to another edition of Climate Change Solutions!

Today, we're featuring stories on carbon neutrality on college campuses, green economic recovery from COVID-19, climate resilience in the HEROES Act, the policy responses to murder hornets, and a Q&A with Oceana plastic director Christy Leavitt on solutions to plastic pollution.

Lastly, don't miss EESI's briefing series on recovery and resilience in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands next week, June 2-4! Details under "Upcoming Events"

And now for a recap of the latest in environmental and energy news:

• The South Pole ozone hole has shrunk to its smallest size ever
• Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen nearly 8% since last year - the largest drop in history!
  • However, the International Energy Agency warns emissions will rebound unless a clean energy recovery is prioritized. 
• Ohio approved the nation's first freshwater offshore wind energy project
• And North Dakota announced its plan to close the largest coal-fired power plant in the state and replace it with renewable sources
• Researches discovered a new pygmy seahorse species off the coast of South Africa and a new study shows bees bite plants to spur flowering!

Love our work? Forward this newsletter to a friend! Have a climate solution? Reach out to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff with tips, gossip, or just to say hi!

Video Short: Justin Kozak Discusses Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE) Dr. Justin Kozak, a Researcher and Policy Analyst at the Center for Planning Excellence, discusses Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE). Using a ground-breaking approach to community adaptation planning, LA SAFE, which is a collaboration between the Louisiana Office of Community Development and the Foundation for Louisiana, held 71 community meetings and engaged with over 3,000 people in coastal Louisiana. Together, the communities developed adaptation plans and voted on pilot projects, which jump started the implementation stage funded by federal Community Development Block Grants. Headlines What We Can Learn from Colleges and Universities Meeting Their Net Carbon Neutral Goals Despite the challenges educational facilities face in the wake of COVID-19, colleges and universities continue to push forward to reach their greenhouse gas mitigation targets. [click for more]   New Study Makes the Case for a Green Recovery from COVID-19 A survey of 200 top economists from G20 countries finds agreement that the most cost-effective way to revive hard-hit economies is to invest in climate-friendly policy initiatives when formulating COVID-19 response packages. [click for more]

On the Hill   The House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act (H.R.6800) on Friday, May 15, setting into motion the next wave of Congressional response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $3 trillion spending package includes provisions on energy efficiency, water, workforce development, and environmental justice. The legislation is unlikely to pass the Senate.   The House also passed a measure on May 15 to allow for temporary remote voting by proxy as well as and remote committee proceedings. The House will be in session Wednesday and Thursday this week, which was originally scheduled as a recess, to vote on several different bills including an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program. The Senate is in recess but will return next week. Last week, a group of Democratic senators led by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) put out a call for public input on the climate crisis. "Please tell us how climate change is already affecting you, your family, your business, and your community," write Sen. Schatz and nine of his colleagues, who are asking for ideas about "how the Congress can best facilitate the transition to a clean economy." Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), one of the signatories to the letter, is leading a focused effort to collect information from rural and agricultural stakeholders.   $3 Trillion HEROES Act Would Provide Assistance to Vulnerable Communities during Pandemic The House of Representatives passed its follow-up to the CARES Act, the HEROES Act, which is aimed at supporting housing, environmental justice communities, biofuel, energy and water services, and transportation infrastructure. [click for more]   State and Federal Efforts to Address the Murder Hornet Menace There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the latest invasive species to hit the national news cycle: the Asian giant hornet. Washington State and Congress are taking preemptive action to stop the invasion in its early stages. [click for more]

EESI Briefings, News and Fact Sheets   Q&A: Oceana Urges Decisive Action on Plastic Pollution EESI sat down with Christy Leavitt, the plastics campaign director at Oceana, to discuss the breadth of the plastic pollution crisis as well as the steps that need to be taken to address this issue. [click for more] ICYMI: Reflections on the Monarch Butterfly Migration The US Fish and Wildlife Service recently signed a "historic agreement" to advance Monarch Butterfly protection on private lands. Read EESI Board Chair Jared Blum's reflections on the monarch butterfly here! [click for more]

Apply to be a Fall intern! Applications due by June 15! Paid interns have the opportunity to learn the inner workings of an environmental nonprofit while contributing to our work advancing sustainable energy.   Development Internship Communications and Policy Internship Policy Internship   EESI Around Town   EESI was cited in an opinion article on government subsidies by SeaCoast online.   EESI's work on electric vehicles was cited in a letter published in the Canadian news outlet, The Intelligencer. EESI's Executive Director Daniel Bresette was quoted in Utility Dive on energy efficiency and heat pump technology   Upcoming Events   Next Week: Recovery & Resilience in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands June 2, 3, 4 3:00 - 4:00 pm EST www.eesi.org/livecast Join EESI for a three-day expert discussion on climate resilience in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The series will explore local initiatives for energy democracy and public health; strategies for resilient housing; and current federal support for disaster recovery and hazard mitigation. Check EESI's website soon for registration details and briefing notice!  ONLINE-ONLY: 2020 Congressional Clean Energy EXPO and Policy Forum July 30 Stay tuned for further logistics! The 23rd Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum will bring together 16-24 businesses, trade associations, and government agencies to showcase renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.  The bipartisan House & Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses are the EXPO's honorary co-hosts.   Biogas: Driving the U.S. Circular Economy September 10 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm EST Rayburn HOB Room 2168 (Gold Room) Held in conjunction with the American Biogas Council, experts will discuss the role biogas systems play in industrial models that "repurpose, reuse, and recycle."   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