Climate Change Solutions

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

EESI is looking forward to the U.N.Climate Summit (COP29) with just five days to go. EESI’s COP29 work started with our series of briefings covering everything Congress needs to know about the climate conference, from negotiations to methane to U.S.-China engagement. Don’t worry, recordings are available if you missed them!

Up next, we’re preparing to send our daily COP29 Dispatch, a newsletter that will give you on-the-ground reports on key activities and outcomes from Baku, Azerbaijan, where COP29 will be held. We’ll also be tracking all the key announcements and U.S. officials present at COP—stay tuned to our COP29 resources page.

For those joining us in Azerbaijan, EESI President Daniel Bresette and Policy Director Anna McGinn will be in Baku from November 11 to 21. Visit us at exhibit booth 23 in the Blue Zone. Plus, on November 19, we’ll be hosting an official side event with the Woodwell Climate Research Center on how wildfire-related emissions impact mitigation planning and preparation of the next round of nationally determined contributions. And don’t miss EESI press conferences on November 15 and November 20. Email [email protected] to get in touch at COP.

With all the action in Baku, we’ll be on a break from Climate Change Solutions for November 19, but we’ll be releasing COP29 Dispatch!

The Latest Solutions

Looking to COP29, Here’s Where Key Past COP Announcements Stand
[9 min. read]

This year’s United Nations climate change summit (COP29) runs from November 11 to 22, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Countries will discuss numerous climate change related topics—inside and outside the formal negotiating process—to assess progress in climate adaptation and mitigation and set new goals. This article examines initiatives announced at previous COPs to track their progress going into COP29. [click for more]

Transforming Communities Through Elective Pay for Nonprofits
[8 min. read]

Thanks to the elective pay (or "direct pay") option created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), nonprofits can take advantage of tax credits for clean energy installations for the first time. However, many nonprofits are still unaware of these opportunities. EESI's Miguel Yañez-Barnuevo traveled to Kansas to introduce elective pay to local nonprofits and explain how it can help transform their communities. [click for more]

On the Hill in September and October 2024: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environmental Hearings
[3 min. read]

Congress held a total of 14 hearings on climate, energy, and environmental topics across September and October of 2024. The Republican-led House of Representatives held 10 of these hearings, while the Democrat-led Senate held four. Eight different committees across the House and Senate covered environmental, energy, or climate topics. [click for more]

Podcast: Empowering People Around the World with Stellar Satellite Data
[33 min. listen]

Atmospheric satellite data can provide key information about climate change, including measurements related to the ozone layer, air quality, methane, and more. In today's episode, Dr. Pieternel Levelt, a scientist and associate director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, joins Daniel and Alison to talk about satellite instruments like OMI (the Ozone Monitoring Instrument) and TROPOMI (the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument). These instruments provide essential data to scientists and policymakers all over the globe. [click for more]

On the Hill

The House Digs Up Incentives on Critical Minerals: The House Committee on Natural Resources passed the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024 (H.R.8446). Led by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), the bill would consolidate the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS’s) and Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) respective lists of critical minerals and materials—including those essential to the clean energy transition. This would ensure that DOE-listed materials are afforded the same clean energy tax credits and other federal support as their USGS-listed counterparts. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced a Senate companion bill (S.5274) in September.

Don’t Be So Salty: The House Committee on Natural Resources passed the Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act (H.R.7872). Conceived by Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) with bipartisan support, the bill would enhance the existing Salinity Control Program to better tackle high salinity levels in the Colorado River. Recently, excess salinity in the river has threatened biodiversity and decreased the amount of water available for household and agricultural use. EESI’s ongoing Resilient and Healthy Rivers briefing series discusses environmental, economic, and health impacts of salinity and other riverine issues across the country’s most consequential river basins.

House Bill Would Support U.S. Vets and Wildlife: The House Committee on Natural Resources passed Reps. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) and Robert Wittman’s (R-Va.) Get Rewarding Outdoor Work for Our Veterans (GROW) Act (H.R.1786). The bill would establish a pilot program to place U.S. veterans in conservation, resource management, and environmental protection jobs in the Department of the Interior. The program could address backlogs in wildlife conservation and management projects while lowering the veteran unemployment rate.

Geothermal Moves Up to the House Floor: The House Committee on Natural Resources also passed the Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act (H.R.7409). Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.), John Duarte (R-Calif.), and Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) steered the bill, which would decrease permit requirements to accelerate geothermal energy production.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for October 21-25 and October 28-November 1.

Implementation Updates

EESI is tracking recent announcements and updates about the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.6 billion in funding for water infrastructure improvements that will go to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to help states address issues like lead, PFAS, sewer overflow, and climate challenges.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $2.4 billion in funding for rail improvement projects across the United States, from track upgrades to bridge replacements.
DOT also announced $970 million in awards to invest in airport modernization, particularly terminal construction and expansion.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced over $3 billion in funding for the Empowering Rural America program, which helps rural electric cooperatives afford renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements.
EPA also announced the awardees of almost $3 billion in funding for Clean Ports Program projects, like ground operation electrification and shore-to-ship power systems.
USDA also announced $1.5 billion in funding for Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects. These projects will support public-private conservation collaboration.

Upcoming Events

Double Exposure Film Festival
November 7-10, 2024
U.S. Naval Heritage Center and other venues
Washington, D.C.

Double Exposure is the United States’ first and only film festival dedicated to investigative reporting on film. It pairs four days of film screenings with a professional symposium that brings together watchdog journalists and filmmakers venturing into investigative storytelling. Three of Double Exposure’s feature films will explore the risks of climate change, the need for sustainability, and environmental justice concerns. EESI is a festival partner; use the code “EESI” for 10% off passes and tickets when you register here.

Press Conference 1 at COP29: U.S. Perspectives from the U.N. Climate Summit
Friday, November 15
6:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. EST
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Baku
Press Conference Room Natavan, Area D or online

EESI will hold a press conference on Friday, November 15, during the U.N. climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29) at 3:30 p.m. local time in Baku (6:30 a.m. EST). Speakers will share observations of the negotiations and other key happenings at COP29 and what it means for climate action in the United States.

Impacts of Growing Wildfire-Related Emissions on the Global Carbon Budget, the +1.5 Limit, and the Next NDCs
Tuesday, November 19
7:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. EST
4:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Baku
Side Event Room 6 in Zone B or online

EESI and the Woodwell Climate Research Center are hosting an official UNFCCC side event, which will focus on the greenhouse gas emissions of wildfires and how these emissions threaten to undermine our ability to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Press Conference 2 at COP29: U.S. Perspectives from the U.N. Climate Summit
Wednesday, November 20
4:30 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. EST
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Baku
Press Conference Room Natavan, Area D or online

EESI will hold a second press conference on Wednesday, November 20, during the U.N. climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29) at 1:30 p.m. local time in Baku (4:30 a.m. EST). Speakers will provide updated takeaways on the state of the negotiations and the latest outcomes of the conference.

The Tennessee River
Wednesday, December 11
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Online only

In EESI's final briefing of 2024, join us for a discussion about strategies to decrease pollution and increase resilience along the Tennessee River, which winds through Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Among the most biodiverse rivers in North America, the Tennessee experiences damaging issues ranging from coal ash contamination to chemical pollution from landfills and manufacturing. Briefing panelists will explore ongoing efforts to address the impacts of water pollution on communities in the river’s watershed. They will also highlight the importance of effective enforcement of local, state, and federal clean water laws and regulations. RSVP here.

From now through spring 2025, EESI is hosting monthly virtual briefings on building river health and resilience in communities across the United States. RSVP and learn more about the full Resilient and Healthy River Communities series here.

In Case You Missed It

Videos Now Available | What
Congress Needs to Know About COP29

EESI's three-part briefing series, What Congress Needs to Know About COP29, covered key issues at play in international climate negotiations and their significance in U.S. efforts to address climate change. The briefings in this series include: What’s on the Table for the Negotiations, Methane Mitigation on the Global Stage, and U.S.-China Engagement and International Climate Diplomacy. The full videos have been posted for all three, and detailed highlight notes will follow shortly.

Video Now Available | Key Issues
to Watch at COP29

EESI Policy Director Anna McGinn moderated a webinar hosted by Second Nature, the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), and the Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations (RINGO) constituency. This insightful session addressed key issues on the COP29 negotiation agenda and featured expert speakers who shed light on the most pressing topics for the global climate community. Click here to check out the recording.

Latest Media Coverage

EESI’s fossil fuels topic overview page was cited by The Lancet medical journal in an article about the health implications of inaction at COP29.
Bloomberg Law cited EESI's issue brief on climate efforts at U.S. ports in an article about the Biden-Harris Administration’s award of $3 billion to 55 ports for decarbonization projects.

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About EESI

EESI is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing science-based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges to achieve a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. Founded on a bipartisan basis by members of Congress, EESI has been informing policymakers about the benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental conservation since 1984.

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