Climate Change Solutions - October 29, 2019

Welcome to Climate Change Solutions for October 29!

Newly published research discusses impacts of climate change including  flood pattern changes, Alaska’s rapid warming, and beaches disappearing due to rising seas and over-development. Concurrent policy discussions and developments may provide guidance on how to answer these and other pressing climate issues. 

Nature-based solutions for adaptation surfaced in Washington, D.C. last week during a Congressional hearing that facilitated remarkable consensus between Republicans and Democrats⁠—solutions which are also being promoted in a new UN Foundation campaign leading up to the December COP25 meeting in Chile.

In addition, wealthy countries pledged $9.8 billion to the Green Climate Fund to promote adaptation measures in the Global South, and the U.S. pleged $1.2 billion in commitments to protect oceans at the Our Ocean 2019 conference in Norway. These funds undoubtedly will include nature-based solutions. 

While the Trump administration made controversial initial moves to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, legislators are finding common ground on emissions reductions through improved energy efficiency, as highlighted during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

A bombshell report from the New York Times additionally uncovered roadblocks to achieving higher energy efficiency in buildings, and EESI’s new fact sheet on commercial aviation outlines emissions reduction challenges in that sector. 

Both nature-based solutions and energy efficiency could be topics of discussion for the recently announced, first-ever, bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus. We’ll be keeping an eye out for what happens next, so stay tuned!

Read more headlines here, and reach out to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff with tips, gossip, or to just say hi!

Video Short: Two Key Federal Energy Efficiency Programs Help Low-Income Families Anne McKibbin, Policy Director of Elevate Energy (Illinois), talks about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), two critically important federal programs that help low-income households become more energy efficient.   Headlines Hockey and Oysters: A Match Made in Florida  A program out of Florida Gulf Coast University is using broken hockey sticks to reduce waste and clean up waterways. [click for more]   The Magic of End-of-life Refrigerant Management  Hydrofluorocarbons emitted by refrigeration and air-conditioning units present a major threat to greenhouse gas mitigation goals. But solutions exist to reduce their impact. [click for more]   Report from the Tenth Annual Northwest Climate Conference The conference in Portland, Oregon discussed climate impacts in the Pacific Northwest and highlighted Tribal efforts to adapt to a changing environment.  [click for more]

On the Hill This edition of the EESI Congressional Round-Up covers October 15th through October 23rd. After returning to Washington from a two-week recess, Members of Congress introduced more than two dozen legislative proposals to address environmental and energy issues. In addition to the introduction of environmentally relevant legislation, the Senate approved three bills out of committee while the House approved five of its own. Read highlights and see EESI's full environmental legislative tracker here.   EESI Executive Director Testifies Before Senate on Energy Efficiency Daniel Bresette called energy efficiency the "secret weapon against climate change" during a hearing titled "Energy Efficiency Efforts in the United States and Internationally." [click for more]   House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Finds Common Ground on Nature-Based Solutions  A hearing titled "Solving the Climate Crisis: Natural Solutions to Cutting Pollution and Building Resilience" discussed the multiple benefits nature-based solutions to climate change, and finding broad bipartisan support for the issue. [click for more]

EESI News, Briefings, and Fact Sheets   Fact Sheet: Nature as Resilient Infrastructure - An Overview of Nature-Based Solutions  Nature-based solutions are often higher-quality, lower-cost, more resilient, and more beneficial to society than maintaining, repairing, or replacing gray infrastructure. Learn more with EESI's new fact sheet. [click for more]   Fact Sheet: The Growth in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Commercial Aviation This begins a series on commercial aviation by examining the impact the growth of air travel and freight will have on greenhouse gas emissions. [click for more]   Briefing: Improving Coastal Resilience in the Northeast Speakers from organizations in Maine, Massachusetts, and the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area discussed different methods to prepare and adapt diverse communities to climate change. [click for more]

Apply to be a Spring intern! 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 the Facility Executive. The article describes the natural gas challenges in the Northeast United States and the need for electrification.   EESI was cited in Newsweek. The article linked to EESI's fact sheet on fossil fuel subsidies.   EESI Executive Director Daniel Bresette's was quoted in Electrek on energy efficiency issues. The article used dialogue from the Congressional hearing during which Bresette gave testimony.   Upcoming Events   Delay and Pay or Plan and Prosper November 1 9:30 am - 11:00 am 2318 Rayburn House Office Building EESI and the World Resources Institute invite you to a briefing on the Global Commission on Adaptation's Flagship Report and Year of Action for climate adaptation.    Community-Centered Resilience: Lessons from Louisiana November 6 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm 1334 Longworth House Office Building Coastal erosion and shifting agricultural growing seasons are impacting many U.S. communities. LA SAFE, a collaboration between the Louisiana state government and the Foundation for Louisiana, took on this challenge through community engagement, action planning, and initialization, that could prove to be a model for the nation.   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.   14th Annual American Passive House Conference December 4-8 Hyatt Regency Crystal City Washington, DC Attendees get real-world case studies on passive home projects ranging from single family homes to high-rises, the latest on mechanical systems, building science, constructions details, and expo hall full of the latest building components.   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