Climate Change Solutions - October 27, 2021

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

The latest round of United Nations climate talks (COP26) is starting on Monday, and EESI has got you covered for all things COP.

This month EESI conducted four briefings in our series What Congress Needs to Know in the Lead Up to COP26. Briefings featured high-level speakers on topics ranged from climate adaptation, to international finance, to what the COP26 negotiations will entail overall. All briefing videos have been posted on our website, so you can catch up before negotiations begin! For daily updates on the negotiations and events taking place at COP26 starting next week, subscribe to our newsletter the Glasgow Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know About COP26.

And in this issue of Solutions, read about the opportunities and challenges going into COP26, along with a Q&A diving deeper into the international commitments for zero-emission vehicles.

While climate negotiations are happening abroad, policymakers are also working on critical climate policy in the United States: read about a Senate hearing covering the circular economy and recent developments in expanding electric vehicle deployment in rural areas.

Additionally, the next two articles in our new Federal Resilience Programs series are now up! Read about coral reef conservation and the Sea Grant program, both from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Finally, check out and the latest episode of The Climate Conversation podcast featuring EESI development director Susan Williams and Lukas Haynes of the David Rockefeller Fund, about how philanthropic foundations are powering climate solutions.

Have a climate solution? Send tips to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff!
 

Headlines Setting the Stage for the COP26 Climate Talks in Glasgow [5 min. read] As the start of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) approaches, anticipation is growing for what countries will be able to achieve during these critical two weeks. It is under this dichotomy that COP26 will unfold—the enormous challenge of climate change and the unprecedented opportunities of climate action. [click for more]   International Collaborations and Commitments on Zero-Emission Vehicles at COP26 and Beyond: A Q&A with British Climate Attaché Reem Yusuf [3 min. read] The zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) market is growing steadily, but to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, this transition in the transportation sector to needs to accelerate. EESI sat down with Reem Yusuf, a climate attaché at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to discuss international collaboration on ZEVs and what to expect at COP26. [click for more]         Beyond Cities: Breaking Through Barriers to Rural Electric Vehicle Adoption [5 min. read] While the push to electrify the automotive sector is well underway in urban and suburban areas, the same cannot be said for rural America. The need to electrify the transportation sector to reduce carbon emissions is clear, but this goal cannot be reached without the inclusion of rural areas, which are home to more than 57 million Americans. [click for more] Senate Committee Explores Circular Economy in Recent Hearing [2 min. read] On September 22, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing, The Circular Economy as a Concept for Creating a More Sustainable Future, to discuss how to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in ecosystems or landfills. [click for more]   Series: Federal Programs Advancing Climate Resilience   NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program [3 min. read] Passed in 2000, the Coral Reef Conservation Act established the Coral Reef Conservation Program, which aims to protect, conserve, and restore coral reefs by maintaining healthy ecosystems. [click for more]   NOAA National Sea Grant College Program [3 min. read] Sea Grant is a program under NOAA that brings together 34 different university Sea Grant Programs into one network. The university programs conduct research, release educational materials, assist with community projects, and hold trainings on creating and maintaining a healthy coastal environment and economy. [click for more]

On the Hill From October 11 to 15, the House focused on offshore drilling and coral reef conservation. The House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the impacts of abandoned offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Additionally, the full Committee held a markup and moved forward two bills, H.R.570 and H.R.2643, which relate to offshore drilling. In the same markup, the Committee also considered H.R. 160, Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, which would reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. From October 18 to 22, several pieces of legislation were introduced in the Senate related to wildfires, including S.1734 , S.2404, S.2650, and S.2806. The House Committee on Natural Resources held two hearings on the status and response to the Colorado River drought. In the lead up to COP26, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing on combating climate change through international development. See EESI's full environmental and climate legislative trackers for October 11 - 15 and October 18 - 22.

EESI Briefings and Fact Sheets   Briefings: What Congress Needs to Know in the Lead Up to COP26 EESI's four-part series leading up to the start of COP26. All videos are available and briefing highlights will be posted soon:   Creating Policies, Coalitions, and Actions for Global Sustainable Development: A Conversation with Sir Robert Watson and Christiana Figueres Momentum on Climate Adaptation The Role of International Climate Finance The Negotiations: What's on the Table The final briefing in the series, Recap of COP26: Key Outcomes and What Comes Next, will be held November 18. RSVP here!   New Podcast Episode! Expert Perspective - What is the Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance and Why Does it Matter? [23 min. listen] This week, Dan and guest co-host Susan, EESI's director of development, sat down with Lukas Haynes of the David Rockefeller Fund to discuss how grant-awarding foundations can help power climate solutions. The David Rockefeller Fund recently joined the Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance, becoming one of the first U.S. foundations to do so, in an effort to drive decarbonization and inspire other asset owners to do the same. [click for more]

EESI Around Town   E&E News quoted speakers from our recent briefing on international climate finance in a piece on advancing financing progress ahead of COP26. Upcoming Events Briefing Series: What Congress Needs to Know in the Lead Up to COP26 Missed our briefing series on what Congress needs to know before the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change? Find the first four briefings here.   Recap of COP26: Key Outcomes and What Comes Next Thursday, November 18 10:30am - 12:00pm With dozens of events and negotiating sessions happening at any one time during the two weeks of COP, it can be challenging to keep up with all the details. This briefing will review the key outcomes of COP26 and provide context and nuance to the main headlines coming out of the meeting. Panelists will then dive into takeaways from international, private sector, and local government perspectives.    ACORE Grid Forum November 3 - 4, 2021 Virtual The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) invites you to join it for the ACORE Grid Forum: a two-day, digital event examining the roles of infrastructure legislation, administrative orders and actions, regional and state developments, and private sector strategies on the path to a carbon-free grid. Register here and use the code GridSupporter20 for a 20% discount! EESI is a supporting organization for this event.   Electrification 2022: Collaborating for a Clean-Energy Future March 14 - 17, 2022 Charlotte, North Carolina EESI is proud to be a supporting organization for the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) upcoming Electrification 2022 conference. Join us in person March 14-17 in Charlotte, N.C., to share what’s new in the electrification of buildings, vehicles and industry, spend time with your colleagues, and explore efficient, equitable solutions for a net-zero economy.           Stay at the forefront of our decarbonizing society with immersive pre-conference workshops, expert-led agenda sessions, an all-inclusive exposition, and extensive networking including a closing party at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.         Register now! #ElectricTogether

Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: Emma Johnson - 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