Climate Change Solutions - November 12, 2019

Welcome to Climate Change Solutions for November 12!

Since last issue, big developments arose over the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties with COP 25 less than one month away:

• Chile, rocked by civil unrest, withdrew as host to the coming December meeting. Spain stepped in to host the COP 25 meeting in Madrid. 

• The Trump Administration officially began the process of pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement signed by 197 countries in 2015 at COP 21.

• French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly affirmed their support of the Agreement in response. 

• A new report finds that only 48 countries are on track to meeting their goals to limit warming to 2C.. 

More international climate news includes:

• 11,000 scientists issued a warning that “planet Earth is facing a climate emergency.”

• Italy becomes first country to mandate climate change lessons in public schools.

• New Zealand passes law to become carbon neutral by 2050. 

• Melting sea ice is bringing deadly pathogens to marine mammals across the globe.

• Jellyfish, at least, are thriving in warmer water and decline in predators.

• New UN project will improve data collection and reporting on forests for 26 countries.

Climate issues popped up in financial discussions this month:

• Officials discussed climate considerations for monetary policy during the first ever Federal Reserve conference on climate change and economics. 

• European Union finance ministers said the bloc should start phasing out its funding of oil, gas, and coal projects.

Read more headlines here!

Send your tips, comments, or greetings to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff.

Video Short: Waterfront Alliance's Big City Resilience Kate Boicourt, Director of Resilience for Waterfront Alliance, discusses ongoing work in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area to build capacity for climate adaptation in America's largest metropolis.   Headlines Pennsylvania Takes a Step Toward Joining Northeast Carbon Cap-and-Trade Program The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a group of northeastern states that have worked together to reduce carbon emissions through a cap and trade system since 2005, and could serve as a model for federal authorities. [click for more]   Cities, Counties, and States Step Up Amidst Trump's Decision to Leave Paris Agreement President Trump gave formal notice that the US would begin leaving the Paris Agreement, but subnational entities are coming up with their own solutions for lowering greenhouse gas emissions. [click for more]

On the Hill The Senate introduced 20 bills relevant to energy and the environment, approved and reported 15 more bills out of committee, and passed no bills. The House introduced 24 such bills, approved and reported seven bills out of committee, and passed one bill, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act. The House was not in session November 1-7 but came back on November 12.  See EESI's environmental legislative tracker and highlights for October 17 - November 7 here.   EESI Weighs in on Funding for Energy Efficiency Programs The House and Senate have each passed appropriation bills to fund the DOE, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation. EESI recommends funding priorities for energy efficiency. [click for more]   Workforce Development for Small Businesses in the Clean Energy Economy The House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on "Creating a Clean Energy Workforce." Experts discussed programs and policies that could meet the growing demand for clean energy workers. [click for more]   Deadline Reminder: Submit Your Climate Policy Ideas to Congress Ten days left to submit responses to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis' Request for Information. [click for more]

EESI Briefings and Fact Sheets   Briefing: Improving Coastal Resilience in the Northeast  Speakers from Maine, Massachusetts, and the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan area discuss different projects protecting communities and the environment. [click for more]   Briefing: Delay and Pay or Plan and Prosper EESI teamed up with World Resources Institute to hold a briefing discussing practical solutions to adapt to the effects of climate change. [click for more]   Briefing: Community-Centered Resilience: Lessons from Louisiana Speakers discuss LA SAFE program as a model in resilience planning for other coastal communities. [click for more]

Apply to be a Spring intern! 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   Gizmodo cited EESI in article describing upcoming presidential environmental justice forum.  Lexology described hearing on energy efficiency that EESI Executive Director Daniel Bresette testified on.   Upcoming Events   The Growing Role of Renewable Energy in the U.S. Energy Mix November 15 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm 2167 Rayburn House Office Building Held with the Clean Energy and Technology Staff Association, this briefing will overview innovations in renewable energy and energy storage from federal agencies and industry.   Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States November 22 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm 2237 Rayburn House Office Building This briefing will highlight some of over 1,000 options in current U.S. law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2015. These tools were identified in two recent reports from the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project Description.   Coastal Resilience in the West: Scientific and Policy Innovations Strengthening Communities and the Environment December 4 1:30 pm - 3 pm 2167 Rayburn House Office Building Join scientists and community leaders for a discussion on adaptation strategies on the West Coast.   2020 ACEEE Rural Energy Conference February 25 Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Chicago, IL This one-day event will explore how energy efficiency and clean energy are increasing rural prosperity. Conference sessions will delve into clean energy solutions tailored for rural communities that will spur economic growth and energy affordability.   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