Hello and welcome to a special agriculture-themed Climate Change Solutions!
The Senate and House Agriculture Committees continue to hold hearings in preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill. The featured article of this issue compiles the climate, environmental, and energy highlights from those hearings.
Also in this issue, we have an a-maize-ing article on the climate benefits of biochar and compost to wrap up our five-part agriculture and climate series. And check out our tree-mendous Q&A article with the Savanna Institute, an organization advancing agroforestry in the Midwest. Keep reading for a harvest of good information!
We have no shortage of briefings planned for the rest of the month. On June 13, we will cover wildfires as part of our Living with Climate Change series, followed by a briefing on June 16 on regenerative agriculture—farming in sync with the local environment and climate.
We are still accepting fall internship applications! Apply to be a paid intern on our policy, communications, and Access Clean Energy Savings teams by June 12.
Nibret Daba has joined EESI as a Salesforce administrator. Welcome to the team, Nibret!
Have a climate solution? Send tips to Savannah Bertrand! |
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Headlines
Congressional Hearings Leading Up to the 2023 Farm Bill
[12 min. read]
Every five years, Congress passes a Farm Bill covering a wide range of issues from conservation to rural development. Since the 2018 Farm Bill will expire in 2023, Congress is in the process of holding hearings to inform the next iteration of the bill. This article provides a high-level summary of the Congressional Farm Bill-related hearings, with a focus on the environmental, energy, and climate takeaways. [click for more] |
Biochar and Compost for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
[6 min. read]
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| Soil amendments are products added to soil that enhance desired characteristics such as nutrient content, texture, and fertility. There are a wide variety of soil amendments available, but only biochar and compost provide climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits. [click for more] |
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Q&A: How the Savanna Institute is Helping Agroforestry Thrive in the Midwest
[6 min. read]
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| Agroforestry is a sustainable agricultural practice that integrates trees with crops and livestock, providing numerous environmental, climate, and economic benefits. EESI spoke with Renee Gasch of the Savanna Institute, a nonprofit organization working to promote agroforestry in the Midwest. [click for more] |
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On the Hill
The House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on building a conservation workforce. Interested in learning more about climate jobs? Check out EESI's Climate Jobs fact sheet and Conservation Corps: Pairing Climate Action with Economic Opportunity issue brief.
The bipartisan Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Recovery Act (H.R.5001) passed the House. The bill aims to help advance water infrastructure projects while also safeguarding endangered fish species.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) introduced a bill (H.R.7949) to improve resilience to and preparedness for extreme heat. To learn more about extreme heat, RSVP for EESI's briefing on the topic on June 24.
See the full environment and energy legislative trackers for May 23-27 and May 31-June 1. |
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EESI News and Briefings
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Upcoming Events
Briefing Series: Living With Climate Change
Wildfires
Monday, June 13
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Billions of dollars are spent fighting wildfires every year, and the cascading environmental, economic, health, and societal impacts of wildfires are enormous. Over the last century, battling wildfires after they have started has been the main approach to address this threat. Now, more proactive and preventative steps are needed. Panelists will discuss policies and practices that would allow the United States to reduce the overall risk of wildfires, including how innovations in community-centered wildfire protection can improve resilience for humans and ecosystems. RSVP here.
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.
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Pathways to Regenerative Agriculture: Farm Policy for the 21st Century
Thursday, June 16
12:00pm - 1:30pm
EESI and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) invite you to a briefing on regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture, or farming in sync with the local environment and climate, produces multiple economic, climate, and societal benefits. Examples of these practices include reducing or eliminating synthetic pesticide and fertilizer use as well as soil tillage. The briefing will feature findings from NRDC’s new report, Regenerative Agriculture: Farm Policy for the 21st Century, which was informed by conversations with farmers and ranchers from 47 states and Washington, D.C. RSVP here.
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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.
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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. |
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