Maximizing the Impact of Natural Climate Solutions

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), U.S. Nature4Climate, and the Bipartisan Policy Center held a briefing on natural climate solutions, which leverage natural processes—like those in forests, grasslands, soils, and wetlands—to reduce carbon emissions, sequester carbon, and bring new income and employment opportunities to rural America. Natural climate solutions as a whole are a widely popular strategy to address climate change, with 92% of people across the political spectrum in support of their implementation. This briefing explored the federal role in maximizing the benefits of natural climate solutions. The panel convened experts studying natural climate solutions and practitioners implementing programs supported by federal agencies. These panelists discussed what is working, what we are still learning, and what the next phase of natural climate solutions policy and implementation looks like to support the long-term productivity and resilience of America’s natural and working lands and the prosperity of rural communities.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about climate solutions from small- and medium-sized cities. Cities around the country are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Many cities and community partners are doing this work with support from federal agencies, while others can share key learnings from project implementation to help inform federal decision-making.  During this briefing, speakers focused on nature-based solutions in cities—from parks that help manage stormwater to urban trees that can reduce summer temperatures across entire neighborhoods. Panelists, including city government officials, community leaders, and federal agency partners, highlighted equitable and community-designed climate solutions from the places they live and work and described the intersection points with federal policy and programs.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and American Rivers held a briefing to learn about the state of dam infrastructure in the United States. Rivers across the United States are dotted with dams built for various purposes, from powering factories to irrigating croplands. In fact, there are more than 500,000 dams across the country. Of the dams in the National Inventory, 85 percent have outlived their expected lifespan and many are no longer serving a purpose. This presents a critical challenge for dam owners, municipalities, states, the federal government, and industry as they seek to ensure community safety.  This briefing discussed the options dam owners have to manage this infrastructure challenge, including dam removal, which is a common approach to dam safety and river restoration. Dam owners frequently seek help with removing their obsolete and unsafe structures, and dam removals are only completed with dam owner consent. To date, dam owners have worked with federal agencies and nonprofits to remove 2,119 dams, the majority of them in the last 25 years.  Panelists discussed the need to pay attention to dams as key infrastructure--including dams that provide carbon-free electricity to 30 million Americans--that has an impact in districts across the country. Bringing together perspectives from federal agencies, local leaders, and the hydropower industry, the briefing highlighted funding, programs, and projects that advance public safety through dam removal as well as river restoration.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) held a briefing about ocean carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Reaching global climate goals will require not only deep and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but also large-scale removal of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. While federal funding for research, development, and demonstration of land-based CDR approaches and technologies has increased significantly in recent years, the ocean also presents opportunities for carbon removal.  The ocean covers 70% of the Earth and serves as its largest carbon sink, holding 42 times the carbon in the atmosphere. Ocean CDR—the practice of removing and storing carbon from the ocean—is garnering increasing scientific, governmental, and private sector interest. At the same time it presents uncertainties related to efficacy, ecosystem impacts, and governance, which decision-makers must understand in order to determine if and how the practice could be scaled up as a climate solution. Panelists discussed the current state of ocean CDR, including the status of different approaches; the policy and regulatory landscape; research gaps; and the importance of responsible scaling. They also discussed how lawmakers can engage in this emerging policy arena to meet mitigation and adaptation goals.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing on the impacts of climate change on U.S. national security.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about the implementation of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in rural America. What programs are uniquely designed for and supportive of rural communities? What types of projects are making a difference in people's lives? What are the remaining barriers preventing small and rural communities, institutions, and companies from accessing IIJA and IRA support? Panelists addressed these questions and shared the latest updates on U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, and other agency programs that provide for rural communities. They outlined how these laws directly help rural communities—from farms and ranches to rural town centers. Using specific examples from around the country, panelists also discussed key topics from a rural perspective, including electricity provision, broadband access, drinking water availability, and pollution reduction.

Hosted in coordination with the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses, the Conservative Climate Caucus, and the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) held a briefing about the 12th edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The Factbook provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the U.S. energy transformation, with an in-depth look at the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and natural gas sectors, as well as transmission, digitalization, micro-grids, offshore wind, hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and more. Panelists explored the impact of supply chain trends as well as permitting and siting processes on U.S. clean energy deployment. They also highlighted investment figures resulting from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The Factbook, published by BloombergNEF and BCSE, launched on February 21, and is available to download for free at www.bcse.org/factbook. 

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about the latest presidential budget proposal and the outlook for Congressional appropriations for fiscal year 2025. The briefing described the different stages of the appropriations process and how it interfaces with other legislative activity on the Hill. The briefing also shed light on the role of the 12 appropriations subcommittees and highlighted ways Congressional staff, working both on and off the appropriations committees, can engage with the process. Panelists showcased examples of investments in climate, energy, and environment research and innovation that bring the process to life.

A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast (wireless connection permitting) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about the latest innovations in weather forecasting and communication to improve community resilience, awareness, and preparedness. Climate change multiplies and intensifies acute weather events like hurricanes as well as chronic stressors like droughts. Communities need to be informed not only of day-to-day weather events, but also of the ways our changing climate is affecting and altering weather patterns in their region. At this briefing, speakers will discuss exciting technologies that can help deliver accurate, timely, and actionable forecasts to those who need it most. Panelists will also underscore the importance of climate communication and emergency outreach, and how weather and disaster information can be delivered to the public in ways that support equitable, accessible, and effective community preparedness.

A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about the Department of Energy’s Energy Earthshots, which are designed to rapidly break down market barriers and scale up innovation in eight key sectors to address the climate crisis. From enhanced geothermal energy and floating offshore wind to low-carbon industrial heat and affordable home energy, these Earthshots set ambitious goals to tackle the critical energy challenges of our time. Panelists from the Department of Energy and its partners will share the latest updates on each Earthshot’s progress. They will describe tangible work undertaken at the federal level, at national labs, and across the private sector to turn the Earthshot targets into reality. Speakers will also explore how the different Earthshots complement each other to advance a just and equitable transition to clean energy.